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See Page 21 1 


Uncle Earle's 
Monopoly 

BY 

/ 

ANNE FRANCES COLE 


V 


OINOINNATI 

The Editor Publishing Company 
1899 


TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 


L Ibrary of Conf rtfl| 
Office of tho 

Nnv 1 6 

Register of Copyrighttr 



K 



•47575 

Copyright 

The Editor Publishing Company 
1899 , 


> 


SECOND COPt, 


JVtto • \ '5‘d 


TO THE 

GIRLS AND BOYS OF 
‘‘NIPNET.” 


CONTENTvS. 


Chapter. 

I. 

The Beeches - . - * 

Pagp. 

1 

II. 

The Boys - - . - 

IH 

III. 

Deerfoot Falls _ - . 

19 

IV. 

Castle Silent . - _ 

‘29 

V. 

A Fishing Expedition 

48 

VI. 

Crowning the Knights • 

6() 

VII. 

Don Fulano - _ > > 

69 

VIII. 

A Scheme that was Grandinotherc-d 

82 

IX. 

Nelson’s '‘Forty are” - - . 

I'O 

X. 

The Challenge - . _ 

106 

XI. 

Allan’s Conspiracy - - - 

122 

XII. 

Vivian’s Counterplot 

185 

XIII. 

Ralph ----- 

140 

XIV. 

Digging for Bait - - - 

152 

XV. 

The Tower Room _ _ _ 

162 

XVI. 

Nelson’s Return - - - 

169 

XVII. 

His Better Self _ _ _ 

179 

XVIII. 

Miriam’s Success 

lt!0 

XIX. 

Dinner al Fresco . _ _ 

208 

XX. 

The Horse Show - - - 

216 

XXI. 

An Expedition Ghost ward - 

228 

XXII. 

Final Exploit of the Knights - 

288 

XXIII. 

The Raymond Crest - - - 

248 

XXIV. 

The Ghost Materializes - 

255 

XXV. 

The End of the Fairy Tale 

266 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY. 

o 

CHAPTER I. 

THE BEECHES. 

Nelson Craft sat on a nail keg outside of the 
carriage house door, reading the Mildam Gazette. 
The paper which he held was a week old ; but, 
judging by the close attention which he gave; 
and his low chuckle of satisfaction now and then, 
it was evident that the news had by no means 
lost its flavor. 

Nelson was general factotum at The Beeches. 
He was practically alone in the world — the rest 
of the Craft family, with the exception of one 
sister, having moved to the far west when he 
was a mere boy. He had lived with the Howe 
family for many years making himself valuable 
from the first, not only by his reliability but by 
a certain shrewdness of management and quick- 
ness in emergencies soon recognized and appre- 
ciated by his employers. 

It was natural, under such circumstances, that 
the family interests should be his interests, and 
1 


2 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


that locked in his true heart should be more than 
one secret which the gossips of Mildam, in spite 
of all their attempts, failed to discover. Why 
had the present Mr. Howe never married? What 
had become of Miss Margaret’s lover.? These and 
other questions it was confidently believed Nel- 
son could answer if he would, but he would not. 

Two paragraphs in the paper pleased him 
mightily ; the first one read : — 

“We understand that The Beeches will not be 
occupied this summer. Mr. Earle Howe, his sis- 
ter, Miss Margaret Howe, and their niece, Miss 
Ruth Sherwood, will sail for Europe shortly. 
Miss Sherwood has just recovered from a severe 
attack of the grippe and her physicians have 
ordered her abroad for change of air.” 

The other paragraph w^as : — 

“The lodge of the Castle has been enlarged 
and thoroughly equipped, and we hear it is to be 
occupied by Mr. Raymond during the fishing 
and hunting season. If he never intends to com- 
plete the Castle, he might better, w’e should 
think, dispose of it to some enterprising person 
who would finish the structure and reclaim the 
place which seems to be fast going to ruin and is 
no credit to the owner.” 

“That means,” said Nelson, with another 
chuckle, “that the editor of this paper has a 
commission to buy the place himself at a low 
figger; but he won’t make nothin’ by tryin’ to 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


3 


run it down, and Mr. Hugh Raymond ain’t a 
goin’ to sell out to any such kind of a man any- 
how.” 

He did not continue his reflections, being at 
that moment summoned to the house, where 
Mr. Howe, who had not gone to Europe, and Miss 
Margaret, who had not gone either, were con- 
sulting with their mother — the dearest old lady 
in the world — as to the best means of restoring 
Ruth Sherwood to health in the shortest possible 
time. 

The house, with its broad piazzas and hospit- 
able door, had consisted originally of a large 
hall with spacious rooms opening on either side, 
a story above this and then the big attic with 
its sloping roof and space for storing old-time 
treasures. Mr. Howe’s father had built an ad- 
dition of dining-room and library, with its sec- 
ond story, on the eastern side of the house, and 
Mr. Howe himself had built a corner octagonal 
room with tower rooms above ; so that now The 
Beeches was capable of entertaining a number 
of guests at one time and fortunate indeed were 
all lovers of the country and of good cheer who 
were bidden to this mountain retreat. 

Mr. Howe had gone to his desk in the octag- 
onal room, which was his own especial bookroom 
and den, when Nelson tapped at the door. 

“Come in, Nelson,” called Mr. Howe’s hearty 
voice, “sit down ; there are a good many things 


4 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


to be talked over and I need your advice and 
help.” 

“Guess I’d better go down an’ help the editor 
of the Mildam write a new paragraph for his 
paper,” said Nelson. 

“We were going to Europe, you know,” said 
Mr. Howe smiling; “but the doctors decided 
that Miss Euth must have mountain air, and 
where can better mountain air be found than 
right here?” 

“Nowheres in the world, Mr. Howe, no- 
wheres in the world ; — ’’the two men — one trav- 
eled and experienced, the other thoroughly pro- 
vincial — had but one unalterable opinion on this 
subject. 

“It’s the stables I want to talk about,” said 
Mr. Howe. “Miss Euth will be getting better 
soon and we must have a lot of young folks up 
here to make up for this disappointment of not 
going to Europe. I am sending to Kentucky 
now for a number of horses and I imagine we 
shall need some changes in the stables.” 

“How many horses, all told?” 

“Well, if there are ten or a dozen young folks 
how many horses would you say. Nelson?” 

“Wal, I reckon — ” there was a twinkle in the 
old man’s eye — “if t’was anybody else, four’d be 
enough; but as it’s Mr. Howe t’wouldn’t sur- 
prise me much if he sent for one apiece.” 

“What I want to know — ” Mr. Howe leaned 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


5 


forward with a confidential air — “what I want to 
know is, do you think we can manage so many?’’ 

Nelson was used to being consulted; but there 
was always a fresh pleasure in being treated 
with such consideration by Mr. Howe, and for 
a moment his feelings overcame him so that he 
did not answer, then looking up he said : 

“Wal, if you kin manage the young folks I 
reckon I kin look after the horses.” 

“Good!” answered Mr. Howe; “you look the 
thing over and let me know what will be needed. 
Then you will have to pick out some good steady 
stable men to help you.” 

“Trust me for that, an’ glad enough they’ll 
be to get the job.” 

When Mr. Howe returned to the library he 
was delighted to find that Ruth had been helped 
down stairs and was lying on the lounge near 
the open fire. The windows were open to let in 
the fresh air, which still held a subtle chill; for 
Ruth and the others, who had just come from 
the city house, found a cheery blaze pleasant. 

“Isn’t it ridiculous. Uncle Earle, perfectly 
ridiculous, that I have to lie here. And I’m so 
weak; weak as a kitten.” 

“You will soon gain strength here,” said her 
Aunt Margaret. 

“I never was ill before that I can remember.” 

“No, dear, the little baby illnesses are all that 
you have ever had.” 


6 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Then I don’t see why I don’t get on faster.’^ 

“You are getting cross, Ruth,” said her 
grandmother smiling. “It is the best sign in 
the world for an invalid ; we shall soon have you 
up now.” 

“Yes, and then,” said Mr. Howe, “I know all 
the little coaxings and enticings that will be 
lavished upon me to get me to change my mind 
about Europe ; but really, Ruth, I cannot make 
any change now for this season; we must see what 
is the very best thing that can be done here.” 

“You have a plan for something. Uncle Earle, 
tell me what it is;” and Ruth braced herself on 
her elbow to turn and look into her uncle’s face. 

“Now you are so much better, perhaps you 
can make a plan yourself.” 

“No, indeed, nobody can make such lovely 
plans as you; what is it?” 

‘ ^You know that Sidney and Ralph are not 
going to Europe if we do not go.” 

“Oh, Uncle Earle, aren’t the boys going?” 

“No, they are coming up here.” 

“And then,” eagerly, “I can ride and drive 
and go boating all that I wish, can’t I?” 

“Don’t you think — ” it was Mrs. Howe who 
spoke — “that it would be pleasant to have some 
girls too?” 

“What girls?” a trifle of impatience in the 
tone. 

“We were thinking,” said Mrs. Howe, “that 
you might like to ask Vivian — ” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


7 


‘*Oh ! Vivian wouldn’t come ; she will be going 
to Bar Harbor.” 

“You can ask her and Helen and perhaps 
Miriam.” 

“And might I ask Tina Wright, Aunt Mar- 
garet?” 

“Certainly if you wish to. She would not 
have occurred to me, but I like Tina.” 

“No more talking before luncheon,” said Mr. 
Howe; “you must rest now, and then if you do 
not feel like writing I am sure your Aunt Mar- 
garet will send your invitations for you.” 

“Oh! I’m quite up to it now. I’d like to 
send them myself.” 

“Very well; now I will go and write to the 
boys to come up a week from Friday for a day 
or two. We must not leave them out ; they will 
need some comrades too if there are to be so 
many girls.” 

The letters of invitation were sent that same 
day and the replies came very promptly. Ruth 
read them all eagerly and then handed them to 
her aunt who was sitting near her. 

“Shall I ask your uncle to come and hear 
them?” asked Miss Howe; “he is talking with 
Nelson in the study,” 

“Yes, and please ask grandmama too; she 
will be interested.” 

The first letter was from Christina Wright 


8 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


“My Dear Ruth: 

“Mama says I may go, and I think 
it is so sweet of you to ask me when there are ever 
so many nicer girls. Fred says I can be the sky 
terrier of the party, but my curly hair doesn’t look 
quite so bad as it did. I was anxious to have it cut 
again; but Fred says I don’t look so dumpy with it 
baok, and he knows now that my eyes are gray 
instead of green. I am so happy about going that 
I can hardly stop to answer your letter. I’m getting 
my things ready and I’ll remember all you told me 
to bring. Mama says I must send her compliments 
to your aunt and thank her and you for giving me 
such a pleasure, and I am 

‘‘Your very loving, 

“Tina.” 

“P. S. I want to say that it is so good of you 
to ask me, and I will never be jealous of the other 
girls again.” 

Ruth held out her hand for the letter. — “Deai: 
little Tina,” she said; ‘T am so fond of her. 
Read Miriam’s next, will you Aunt Margaret? 
It is rather mournful; and we’ll save Vivian’s for 
the last.” Miriam wrote: 

“My Dearest Ruth:— 

“I can hardly believe I am to see you 
so soon again, and that we are to spend some weeks 
together. Only yesterday I was wishing I could 
have something quite out of the usual line, and now 
comes your lovely invitation. Anybody but you 
would think me dreadfully wicked, Ruth; but you 
know I always tell you all my troubles, and writ- 
ing to you comes as natural as talking. I don’t know 
what the matter is— I’ve been so cross lately. I have 
really nothing to complain of, and yet my temper 
is out of sorts a good deal of the time. What do 
you suppose can be the reason? I try so hard to 
have a sweet temper, Ruth, you know I do. 

“I wish you were right here with me for a good 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


9 


long chat, and I can almost imagine that you are, 
for I am sitting alone in my own room , writing. 
You spoke about my music in your letter; but I 
haven’t done much with it, and I feel disappointed, 
too, that I do not make better progress. Mother 
said she would call me early enough to practice 
before breakfast, but I go to bed too late for that. 
I read rather late you know, and am sleepy in 
the morning. And the Sketch Club? well, it 
languishes. Through the day I hear so many 
times You ought to do this,you ought to do that !’ I 
am quite distracted. If I were the Pope, my dear, 
I would excommunicate that horrid little word, and 
I can’t see why mother ought always to be doing 
so many things as she does. It seems to me she is 
wearing herself all out. Mr. Sanborn said to me 
the other day: ‘My dear, your mother is the finest 
woman that I know;’ and on my way home when I 
stopped with a message for Johanna she said : 
‘Sure then your mother’s an angel, bless her.’ It 
must be all right; but I cannot help wishing that 
for once she and papa and I could do things just 
because we wanted to and not because we ought. 

“When papa read your letter he said at once -.‘Mir- 
iam must accept this invitation.’ It will be 
delightful and we shall get on nicely. It does seem 
too good to be true and I just give myself a hard 
pinch to see whether I am dreaming. Still it will 
be safe to say that you may expect me on the day 
appointed. 

“Your devoted friend, 

“Miriam Snowdon.” 

“Poor Miriam,” said Ruth laughing, “she 
doesn’t want to do anything but read all day 
long, and then she wonders why she does not get 
along in other things.” 

“We will keep her out of doors too much for 
that here,” said Mr. Howe. 

Next came Helen’s letter : — 


10 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


“It is impossible, my dear Ruth, to refuse such a 
lovely invitation. Fannie wished me to go to the 
White Sulphur Springs with auntie and herself, 
after I had been with papa and mother to Saratoga; 
but I should rather come to you, and all the home 
people are willing. You know I am so tall now 
that my gowns are to be almost all new, and I 
feel quite grown up in them. Father says if I go 
to a fashionable watering place with Fannie I will 
have to act like a young lady, and he is glad of this 
opportunity to have a good rollicking time on the 
hills instead. He knew your uncle, Mr. Howe, at 
college, and has told me a number of things about 
him which make me think he must be almost the 
best man in the world. 

“Mother is writing to your aunt, but says I must 
send her best love to you with mine. We are both so 
glad that you are better again. 

“Always yours fondly, 
“Helen DeLancey.” 

Vivian Russell to Ruth Shebwood:— 

“What a dear little puss you are, my dear Ruth. 
Only to think of it, only to dream of it! what a 
Kerry dancing there will be when we lads and las- 
sies all get together. No, you modest daisy, there 
is no other trip or invitation good enough to keep 
me from coming to you. Who ever heard of such a 
merry time as you propose being refused for a com- 
mon place stay at Newport or Bar Harbor? You 
should have heard me laugh over your letter. It 
was like your own thoughtful self to tell me ex- 
actly what to bring; but when I read about the 
shoes, the suit for climbing and all the rest of it I 
laughed until mama came into my room to ask, 
‘Vivian what is the matter now?’ I told her it was 
the loveliest invitation in the world and she must 
on no account say no to my accepting; but the 
letter made me think of a boarding school catalogue 
which says, so many hats, so many handkerchiefs, 
so many aprons, etc., all marked in plain letters 
with the owner’s name. After mama had read your 
letter she bent down her handsome head to kiss me 
and said it was a long time to spare her daughter. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


11 


There was a glisten of a tear in her eye but the 
twinkle came back as she said she did not know as 
she could trust me so soon after my last naughtiness. 
It was only one of my brilliant ideas successfully 
worked out, as you shall hear. You remember that 
dreadfully stupid Mr. York? Well, he has taken 
upon himself to intrude very often of late upon 
papa and spoils a good many of his evenings. He 
shakes hands with mama and speaks to me as if I 
were a babe of ten, and then invariably takes the 
same seat in front of papa and begins one of his 
interminable harangues about either tariff or 
finance or civil service reform, of which of course I 
know nothing, but I could see he didn’t either. One 
evening when I knew he would come I put on my 
black silk dress, did my hair up to look tall, 
and taking the Evening Post sat down between 
papa’s chair and the one he was sure to take. Papa 
took off his glasses and looked at me. Then 
he said Vivian you don’t look natural. You would 
better put on a bib or apron and come and sit on 
the arm of my chair.’ ‘No thank you, papa,’ I 
answered, ‘I think it is quite time I read the pa- 
poes.' In came Mr. York and unsuspectingly took 
his old seat. Papa was deeply interested in his 
reading and before Mr. York could really begin one 
of his harangues I asked him a question about the 
tariff, making sure I had a hard one. I should 
not have known any better if he had told me all 
wrong; but papa, who knows everything, was right 
there and he had to be careful to be correct. I kept 
asking questions and he grew more and more mixed 
up until I was afraid papa would send me away 
and I said, ‘I do want, Mr. York, to know more on 
these subjects and you lecture so beautifully to 
papa that, if you have no objection, the next time 
you come I’d like to ask you some things on the 
Immigration question and take notes.’ He left at 
nine o’clock instead of eleven and papa has had a 
chance to finish the book he is reading. 

“My dear what made you ask me at the same time 
with that funny little Tina Wright? I’m afraid I 
can’t help teasing her however hard I try. 

“Yesterday was my eighteenth birthday. I am al- 


12 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


most afraid to tell for fear the other girls will think 
me too old to be one of the party. But I don’t look 
old, that’s a comfort, and I’m going to stay young, 
I’m not going to have a beau until I’m forty. 

“Yours ever, 

“Vivian Russell.” 


CHAPTER II. 


THE BOYS. 

The boys — Sidney Talbot and Ralph Wayne — 
came in due time and with them was Mr. How- 
ard Parkinson, a friend of their Uncle Earle 
whom they had met on the train. He had heard 
something from Mr. Howe about vacation plans 
and was keenly interested in all they expected 
to do in the summer. 

As they left the station Sidney asked : “You 
have never been here before, Mr. Parkinson?” 

“No, although I have hoped many times to 
come. Why did your uncle choose this rather in- 
accessible place?” 

“Oh! he didn’t choose it. His grandfather 
built the tanneries up here by the falls, when 
there was plenty of hemlock bark to use for the 
tanning, and then he built the homestead. My 
grandmother lives here most of the time now ;she 
thinks there is no place like it.” 

“I guess Uncle Earle agrees with her,” said 
Ralph. 

The Beeches — three miles from the town and 
the station— was reached by a tolerably good and 
very picturesque road,which wound up a gradual 
13 


14 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


ascent to a point from which there was a beauti- 
ful view. The eye wandered over tops of plumey 
pines to half cultivated fields below, and then 
southw’ard to mountain peaks blue and billowy 
in the distance. A little farther on the travelers 
were shut in by protecting trees, and then they 
came suddenly upon The Beeches with its stately 
pillared porch facing the sunset. 

“Fine old place,” said Mr. Parkinson, “and 
this is just the time to arrive. What a glorious 
sky.” 

“Yes,” said Sidney, “the mountains are very 
jolly from here.” 

Mr. Parkinson’s eyes came back from the hills 
and rested on the house. He noted the piazzas, 
the tower at one side and the eastern addition. 
“Somebody told me,” he said, “that this house 
was too mixed in its architecture; I like it.” 

“Oh,” laughed Sidney, “Uncle Earleis used 
to having it criticised ; but he says he hopes 
that when we build w^e will get houses half as 
comfortable and convenient.” 

Out came Mr. Howe with his hearty welcome. 
His manner of shaking hands seemed to say : 
“How are you, how have you been, and how are 
you going to be?” so warm and cordial it was. 

After dinner the evening was given chiefly to 
the discussion of the various schemes to be car- 
ried out during the vacation. Mr. Parkinson was 
greatly amused and entertained. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


15 


‘ ‘You’re going back on your principles, Howe, ’ ’ 
he said, “going back on your principles.” 

“In what way.?” asked Mr. Howe. 

“Why you, who are a rabid anti-monopolist, 
are to have a big monopoly of young folks here 
all summer. I must say I envy you,” he added, 
and all through the season whenever he wrote 
to Mr. Howe he never failed to inquire after 
that “Monopoly.” 

“So the girls are all coming,” said Sidney the 
next morning. “I wish we were as sure of the 
boys.” 

“Why, Ernest Goodwin is sure enough,” an- 
swered Ralph, “and you don’t mind if you have 
him, do you?” 

Sidney bit his lip, and before he could answer, 
Mr. Howe, whose quick eye saw his annoyance, 
said : “And who do you most wish to have come, 
Ralph?” 

“Allan Paige,” was the prompt reply; “he is 
a real good fellow and very fond of me.” 

Sidney turned away, and Mr. Howe, who had 
not known it before, began to see that there was 
no great amount of cordiality between these two 
cousins. 

Perhaps no one except their Aunt Margaret, 
who had seen more of them when they were 
together, knew that Sidney Talbot was Mr. 
Howe’s favorite nephew; for he was truly in- 
terested in all who in any way belonged to him. 


16 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


and he was accustomed to make excuses for 
Ralph, because he said the only son of an indul- 
gent mother labored under serious disadvantages 
and was apt to grow selfish and self-centered 
without knowing it. 

Ralph had not the advantage of Sidney’s fine 
presence; he was shorter, more squarely built, 
and, although he had a good head and well cut 
features, he took no pains to cultivate the pleas- 
ant expression that w’asi necessary in order to 
make him really agreeable. 

Sidney had intended to talk further with his 
uncle ; but he was glad to take advantage of an 
interruption and go to Mrs. Howe’s room instead. 

“I’m cross, grandmama dear,” he said, throw- 
ing himself on the floor at her feet and putting 
his head in her lap. 

“With yourself or with somebody else?” she 
asked, bending lovingly over the dark hair and 
lifting the usually merry face so that she could 
see the trouble in the deep brown eyes. 

“You know there’s Ernest,” he said. 

“And who is Ernest?” she asked. 

“Why, Ernest Goodwin, don’t you remember? 
He wrote all my letters and was no end good to 
me after I broke my wrist at football. I’ve 
never been able to really do anything for him 
since, and I meant to ask Uncle Earle if I could 
invite him up here instead of one of the other 
fellows ; but Ralph takes things so for granted, 
and—” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


17 


“Tell me about Ernest,” she said, “and what 
made him so good to you?” 

“Why you see,” said Sidney, “he is little and 
extra careful not to do anything out of the way. 
That brought some of the boys down on him, 
and I stood up for him, that’s all. But I can 
tell you lots more about him ; his father is dead 
and his mother has just enough to send him to 
school and college if they pinch and contrive all 
through. He told me he thought his mother 
ought to use the money for herself and let him go 
into a store, but she has set her heart on college, 
and he is wonderfully bright, I think. 

“But there’s another trouble,” he continued; 
“if Ernest stays home, he can do very vrell 
about clothes ; but if becomes up here I don’t 
see how he can fix it. He’s awfully proud and 
I can’t manage that again.” 

“Did you manage it once?” 

“Yes, it was this way. I had two good suits 
that I had just grown out of, and I asked him if 
he would play younger brother to me and wear 
them. I said I was fond of the suits and I 
didn’t want to have them just given away. 
Ralph remembered them and he came to me and 
asked if I didn’t think it was a bad plan to give 
a boy better things than he could buy, it might 
make him discontented.” 

“What did you say to that?” 

“I told him he’d better not eat his Thanks- 


18 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


giving dinner for fear he’d be discontented with 
everyday fare afterward. Then I went into the 
next room and there was Ernest. He couldn’t 
help hearing every word that was said, and he 
was terribly cut up, you may be sure. No, I 
can’t do that again.” 

“How would this do?” said Mrs. Howe. 

“What, grandmama?” 

“There is a nice young girl here, a farmer’s 
daughter, who wants to go to the city and learn 
to be a stenographer and typewriter. I have 
peasuaded her so far not to go because she has 
no friends in town ; but I have promised to help 
her and pay her board if she will wait until I 
can find the right place. Now if Mrs. Goodwin 
would consent to take her to board and look 
after her a little, I could send a check in ad- 
vance, and then Ernest’s mother could perhaps 
fit him out to come up here.” 

“Oh, I’m sure she would!” And then Sidney, 
whose keen sense of the fitness of things made 
him realize what a beautiful act this was, 
wanted to say more ; but he could not, and with 
a simple, “Thank you, grandmama,” he went to 
find his uncle and make his request about 
Ernest. 


CHAPTER III. 


DEERFOOT FALLS. 

When the boys went back to the city, Ralph 
was commissioned to take Mr. Howe’s invita- 
tion to Allan, and Sidney was to ask Ernest. 
Sidney’s invitation was accepted at once, and 
Allan told Ralph that he would accept as soon 
as he could get his life insured against the bears 
and bandits of the mountain region. 

One member of the party, not yet mentioned, 
was Mr. Grafton, a boyish looking but most 
thorough tutor, who was to help Sidney and 
Allan make up their conditions for college. 

“Yes,” he said to Sidney, “I shall be very 
glad to go, and I suppose we can make up a 
very fair ball team up there, can’t we?” 

“My uncle says there is to be no ball playing 
this summer.” 

“Why — why, what sort of a man is he?” 
asked the astonished tutor. 

“Oh,” laughed Sidney, “non-athletic you 
know, an indoor sort of a man.” 

“Well, I should say so ; but we’ll see what we 
can do to change his mind.” 

When school closed Mr. Grafton went up with 
19 


20 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


the boys to The Beeches and very much aston- 
ished was he when he first met Mr. Howe. In- 
stead of the elderly, somewhat bent, mild looking 
old gentleman that he had pictured to himself, 
he was confronted by a tall, erect, vigorous 
man whose rich black hair showed only the 
first suspicion of gray, and whose keen dark eye 
could easily detect smaller foibles than an over 
devotion to football. Every Une and motion 
told, too, of the good effects of outdoor air and 
exercise, and before the season was over the 
younger man reluctantly confessed that there 
were some circumstances when his pet form of 
athletics might be dispensed with without ser- 
ious injury being the result. 

Miss Margaret Howe was a great contrast to 
her brother in appearance, although her manner 
and expression made her seem very like him at 
times. She was not tall ; but she carried herself 
so well that she looked above the medium height.^ 
Her luxuriant fair hair had a way of waving and 
curling about her temples that was Kuth’s de- 
light, and the deep blue eyes were always full of 
tenderness for the motherless maiden and of 
welcome to that maiden’s friends. 

The girls were to arrive the day after the boys 
came and great was Ruth’s excitement as, seated 
with Miss Howe in the carriage and escorted by 
the boys on their wheels, she started for the 
station to meet Vivian, Helen, Miriam and Tina,. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


21 


who under the escort of friends going further 
north, were to arrive that afternoon. Ralph 
was the first to give notice of the incoming train 
but it was Allan and Sidney who stood ready to 
give all the assistance in their power to the 
maidens who were arriving. 

Out they came with faces beaming and hands 
* full. 

“Girls always have such a lot of trash,” said 
Ralph, rather disgustedly to Sidney, who stood 
beside him. 

“Seventeen trunks apiece certain,” said Sid- 
ney good humoredly ; “but my, look at that!” 

Among the trunks that were thrown from the 
baggage car was a large one of peculiar shape, 
rounded at the corners and on top, and evidently 
made as nearly as possible on the principle of a 
rubber ball. It struck the platform, then jumped 
over a hat box, landed on a fruit crate, and at 
last settled down between a cask and a wheel- 
barrow. 

“Oh my! Oh dear! Oh!” gasped Tina, while 
Miriam and Helen were nearly convulsed with 
laughter. 

“Is that your trunk, Tina?” asked Helen as 
soon as she could speak. “Tina is that it?” 

“Yes that’s mine,” said Tina. “Fred said, 
you know, that he’d have one made for me this 
time that wouldn’t break.” 

“Shall we have it put on the baggage wagon, 


22 UNCLE EAKLE’g MONOPOLY 

Miss Tina,” asked Allen, “or do you think it 
would prefer going alone?” But Tina did not 
reply. She thought for an instant of what she 
had come to believe to be a fatal truth, that she 
was born to be teased, and then Sidney led her 
to the carriage where Miss Howe was waiting. 

The horses were fresh and in a very short time 
took them to The Beeches, tired enough to take 
kindly to the “early to bed” which was Mrs. 
Howe’s suggestion in the evening. 

There were so many delightful things to do, 
they could scarcely make up their minds the 
next morning which to attempt first ; but at last 
it was voted to go to Beacon Top and come back 
by way of Deerfoot Falls. 

It was rather a long .walk ; but they were all 
in the spirit of it, and they climbed merrily to 
the high wooded summit. When they rested at 
the top Ernest asked: “Why is it Beacon Top?” 

At first nobody answered. Then Allan said : 
“Because once, years ago, when there were only » 
Indians here, a noted brave came hunting deli- 
cate birds for his sick squaw. Just at this spot 
he was met by an enormous black bear. Not 
being civilized like Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, 
and not*having like that gentleman a pail of 
blackberriesTto ofPer Mr. Bruin, his only resource 
was to climb a tree, that tall pine now dead, 
and swing his bicycle search-light by way of a 
signal of distress. His companions, seeing the 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


23 


light soon came to his rescue, slew the hear and 
restored the hero to the bosom of his family.” 

‘ ‘I hope he took some bear steak to his squaw, ’ ’ 
said Mr. Grafton. 

‘‘I wish I had some now,” said Vivian. 

“And I, and I,” echoed the others. 

“It’s a good hour yet before luncheon,” said 
Ruth. “Let us go back for a row; that will just 
fill in the time.” 

“I know a short cut from here,” said Sidney, 
and following him down by another path, they 
soon reached an irregularly shaped meadow 
skirted by a grove of wonderful old beeches and 
young hemlocks. When they entered this grove 
the sound of falling water fell on the ear and 
they pressed eagerly forward. 

“Wait, please wait!” cried Ruth. “Follow 
Sidney, for the first view of the falls should be 
from a certain point.” 

They obeyed at once and the view was suffi- 
ciently beautiful to repay them. 

They stood on a small open place looking 
down a sheer precipice of one hundred and 
twenty feet. The foamy whiteness of the water- 
fall, some sixty feet high, was the first thing to 
claim their attention; but they soon began to 
take in other points. 

“What jolly old rocks, what lovely ferns be- 
low the falls, and I say, Sid,” said Allan, “why 
didn’t you tell me about these boats?” 


24 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Wanted to surprise you ; besides Aunt Mar- 
garet never told me about the new boats until 
we came.” 

When they had climbed down and were in the 
boats, Allan, gazing up at the rocks, exclaimed : 
“I see it !” 

“See what?” and other eyes were turned in 
the direction which he indicated. 

“The deer’s foot. It is in a horizontal posi- 
tion; that is what puzzled me. Just below that 
ragged crest is a large deer’s foot in bas relief. 
Sid told me it was Deerfoot Falls, and he said I 
must find out the reason myself.” 

“There is a legend,” said Ruth. 

“A real one this time?” asked Tina. 

“This might have been areal one, and Sidney 
can tell it best,” said Ruth. 

“There was a noble chief,” began Sidney — 

“Why don’t you say once upon a time?” in- 
terrupted Allan. 

“That wouldn’t be dignified for an Indian 
tale.” It was Ernest who spoke, and in an 
instant he was appalled at his temerity, but he 
could not endure without a protest having any- 
thing questioned which Sidney did. 

“There was a noble chief,” resumed Sidney, 
“called Deerfoot, who was betrothed to the most 
beautiful maiden of his tribe. She was as 
straight as that young pine and as graceful as 
the willow yonder. Her eyes were dark and 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


25 


deep like the pool,at our feet, and her hair was 
black — as black as — ” 

“Jet?” suggested Helen. 

Sidney shook his head. 

“Coal, ink, onyx — ” still he paused. 

“Make it purple darkness,” said Ruth. 

“That’s it,” said Sidney, “her hair was of 
purple darkness and altogether she was such a 
magnificent creature that when the chief had 
fallen in love with her it was impossible for him 
to love anybody else in the whole circle of all 
the tribes. 

“Only one moon had waxed and waned since 
their betrothal when a messenger came from a 
hostile tribe and laid a bunch of poisoned ar- 
rows at the feet of Deerfoot. 

“He was the most renowned warrior in the 
land so the maiden had little fear when he 
started on the war path ; but the fates were not 
propitious and he was captured. All might still 
have been well if the hostile chief had not had 
a daughter. This daughter was a haughty 
beauty who would not listen to any of the braves 
of her own tribe, yet no sooner had she set eyes 
on Deerfoot than she decided he should be her 
husband. At her request his life was spared 
and she was amazed and indignant to find her 
magnificent offer declined. Deerfoot tried to 
escape, but although he was treated with the 
greatest kindness, to elude the vigilance of the 


26 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


warriors who watched him was impossible. 
Every night he stood long looking up at the stars 
and listening if he might hear the sound of 
these waters far away. And every night the 
one he loved stood on these rocks where we are, 
and listened for his coming, for she knew he 
never would be false to her ; if he were alive he 
would come. 

“At last the love that the hostile maiden felt 
for Deerfoot turned to hate, and the rejected 
braves scorned him more and more. The word 
was given for his execution and tliey tortured 
him to death. 

“The moon shone down brightly on this spot 
and the maiden came with a heavy heart to 
watch and listen. She gazed up where the 
deer’s foot is now, but where then was only a 
plain rock. As she looked she saw this shape 
gradually forming on the plain surface, and she 
knew her own brave was there ; that this was a 
message from him. She called, but he did not 
answer; hastily she climbed to the top of the 
falls; he was not there. Disappointed and in 
despair she threw herself from the dizzy height, 
and as she fell she heard the spirit of Deerfoot 
calling to her to have no fear, for death would 
reunite them in the happy hunting grounds, 
where there is no war.” 

Sidney had told his tale so well that for a 
minute they all gazed at the foamy spray. 
Then — 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


27 


‘‘I’ve made a discovery,” exclaimed Vivian. 

“Oh, no you haven’t,” said Ruth, laughing. 

“I have ; I see a box under that shelving rock.” 

“You see nothing,” persisted Ruth; “if you 
do, it is a secret not to be divulged to-day."” 

Sidney had also spied the box, and guiding 
the boat as he wished with one oar, while Ernest 
rested on the other, he jumped to the shore. 

“A pirate! a pirate!” shouted Allan. 
“Captain Kidd !” 

“Oh, don’t call him that,” said Vivian, “I 
hate Captain Kidd.” 

“I’m not a pirate,” said Sidney, “I’m a dis- 
coverer.” 

“We call him Sir Philip at school,” said 
Ernest, “because Sir Philip Sidney is his 
favorite hero.” 

“Now that’s lovely,” said Vivian ;“tell us, Sir 
Philip, what you have discovered.” 

“A mysterious chest, steel Dound and weather 
beaten. It is padlocked and there is no key.” 

“Perhaps the hinges are loose, ” said Ralph, 
who had joined Sidney. 

“Lift the lid from the back, Ralph — Ralph of 
the iron hand,” said Allan. 

“No,” said Ralph, in the most matter of fact 
manner, for he was really in earnest; “it will not 
move.” 

“Come,” called Ruth, “let us get home to 
luncheon before anyone else is nicknamed.” 


28 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘What is that building over yonder through 
the woods?” asked Vivian as they walked home- 
ward; “the one with the gray towers.” 

“That,” answered Allan, “is a deserted 
house. They say that it is haunted. It is called 
Castle Silent.” 

“How long since?” asked Sidney, in a tone 
intended only for Allan’s ear. 

“Since the last instant. If I am to spend the 
summer here I must have romantic as well as 
picturesque surroundings.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


CASTLE SILENT. 

“Nelson’s a rare one,” said Allan, as he and 
Sidney, books in hand, walked toward the 
stables. 

‘‘What do you mean?” 

“Why you know I’ve been cramming before 
you began, and down here outside the stables 
is a fine shady place for such a lazy dog as I am 
to lie off and read.” 

“The dogs keep you company I see.” 

“They have a fellow feeling for me, especially 
Jingo.” 

‘ ‘He doesn’t deserve his name ; he’s no fighter.’^ 

“He can fight if he chooses; but he prefers a 
dignified retirement.” 

“But what about Nelson? You began to say — ” 

“Oh, yes. One morning I heard him in the 
harness room talking to himself just as much in 
earnest as if he had a crony to hear. I tell you 
it was rich; he went over the present political 
situation until there wasn’t a word left to say. 
The day before it was religion, perhaps this 
morning it will be philosophy ; didn’t you ever 
hear him?” 


29 


so 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘I suppose I have but I never paid any at- 
tention ; we’re all so used to Nelson.” 

“You don’t know what you’ve missed. Quiet, 
there he is now.” 

The two boys threw themselves down in a 
shady corner under the harness room window 
and with expectant faces waited to be edified by 
Nelson’s wisdom. 

“Now then,” said the old man, “I’m goin’ 
once more over this old sitooation.” 

“Political,” whispered Allan. 

“I’ve no fault to find with her yet.” 

“That I take it is his party, the G. O. P.,” 
said Allan. 

“She didn’t do no more than was natural, and 
they were so fond o’ one ’nother ’twas all right 
till that black hearted villain come between ’em 
with his lies. I aint very murderous but I’ve 
seen the time that I’d a been consigned to 
hell fire for the sake o’' wringin’ his neck.” 

Allan assumed a quizzical expression. “Work 
for a detective,” he whispered. 

“I thought fust ‘twas jest a lover’s quarrel 
between ’em ; but it warn’t. She was so peart, 
tossin’ her head just like Miss Vivian does now, 
an’ he was so high spirited — didn’t stand to 
reason they shouldn’t sometimes hev words. 
But I tell ye, sir,” Nelson went on in his nasal 
monotone, “when ye hev powder around it’s best 
to look out how ye tech a match to it. Queer I 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


31 


should a ben on the spot time o’ the quarrel. 
They didn’t see me, an’, bless your stars, ’twas 
all over before I could turn ’round. Talk about 
ghosts over there now ! He looked like a ghost 
when he spoke them cruel words to her, and she 
was as white as one when she answered back. 
But them blue eyes flashed when she took off 
her ring and held it out to him. He shook, but 
she never flinched. He took the ring and flung 
it away. They didn’t look where it landed ; but 
turned and left, he goin’ one way and she t’other. 
I’ve searched an’ I’ve digged, nigh onto ten 
year, in the very spot where I see it fall. I never 
had no superstitions ; but I’ve alius felt thet if I 
could find that ring it’d be made all right yet. I 
dreampt I found it last night and I see Mr. Ray- 
mond and Miss Margaret — ” 

Allan started up as if he had been shot. Sid- 
ney was already on his feet, and for an instant 
the two boys stared blankly at each other. 

With flushed faces they walked rapidly away : 
— “I feel like a criminal,” said Allan; “but 
who could have thought it?” 

“I might have thought,” said Sidney, “but it 
didn’t come to me till the last. When I was a 
very little chap and nobody thought I understood 
I heard them talking about the house over 
there — Castle Silent, you call it — and they said 
Aunt Margaret would have been married and 
lived there if something hadn’t happened ;but I 


32 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


never connected it with this owner. I thought 
Aunt Margaret’s lover died.” 

“What became of that villain, I’d like ta 
know?” said Allan. “I’d like to wring his neck* 
Say, Sid, let’s pursue him to the farthest pole^ 
and pin him to an iceberg.” 

“I wish I had never heard of him,” answered 
Sidney, ruefully. 

“It was beastly to listen; but I've been down 
there for days and heard nothing but generali- 
ties.” 

“Oh, you couldn’t have helped it.” 

“You act as if you could. But I’ve a bright 
idea. Let find that ring !” 

“As if we could after all these years; it must 
be nine or ten.” 

“Do you suppose the knights of the olden 
time paused at a trifle like that? Come, prove 
yourself worthy of your title. Sir Philip.” 

“Allan, I’m afraid you’ll get yourself into 
mischief.” 

“Not I,” answered Allan, “I have still my 
title to win ; but I shall win it if you promise to 
follow where I lead.” 

Sidney looked into the now very earnest face 
and he said, “I promise.” Then they went back 
to the house. 

Such a chattering there was ! Boys and 
girls all talking together trying to decide where 
they wished to drive after luncheon. Mr. Howe 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


83 


was looking on with amusement but not helping 
them out of the difficulty. 

“Oh, Sidney,” called Vivian, “come and help 
us out. Ruth has told us about so many delight- 
ful drives we don’t know which to choose. The 
only thing decided is that we are not to go past 
the haunted house.” 

“Haunted house!” exclaimed Allan, “why 
not? By all means let us go there; Hove ghosts.” 

“Oh, dear,” said Tina under her breath; but 
nobody except Ruth heard. Vivian, who a mo- 
ment before was indifferent as to direction, 
now eagerly exclaimed: “Yes, by all means let 
us go.” 

Miss Howe, who had intended to drive, now 
found some excuse for staying at home, and Mr. 
Grafton regretted that he had repeated the vil- 
lage rumor about a ghost, for he saw what the 
others did not, that the choice of where they 
should go had influenced her decision. 

Tina thought, “Dare I ask to stay with her?” 
— but the fear of being teased was worse than 
the ghost and she did not speak. Poor Tina 
when very small had been under the care of a 
timid and very superstitious nursemaid. She had 
been kept on good behavior by gruesome tales of 
ghosts and uncanny creatures and had acquired 
a habit of looking behind the curtains and doors 
at night, each time with a shiver that sent the 
cold chills down her spine. Nobody even 


34 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


guessed until Grandmama Howe found it out, 
how really brave the little girl was, because 
her companions had no experience of their own 
to enlighten them. 

The majority carried the day, and the drive 
being a short one, they were soon within sight 
of the object of their search. 

“There it is.” 

“Where?” 

“In that clump of trees.” 

“I see it.” 

“I don’t. Now I do. Isn’t it a jolly old 
place?” 

“But it isn’t finished. See that ivy-grown 
wall.” 

“It isn’t ivy, Miriam, you’ll have to put up 
with woodbine.” 

“I don’t care ; it’s awful romantic.” 

“I’ll tell you,” said Helen, “it’s like in 
‘What will he do with it?’ You know the house 
didn’t get finished.” 

“But where is County Guy?” quoted Ralph. 

Allen and Sidney turned to him in amaze- 
ment. “When on earth did you read Bulwer?” 
and, “I never would have suspected you of such 
frivolity,” they said. 

“Well,” said Ralph, “I began that one book of 
Bulwer’s and of course I wouldn’t stop until I 
had finished it.” 

“Of course not, even if you had brought on 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


35 


an earthquake as the result.” This sounded 
ill-natured , but as a rule, no one suspected Al- 
lan of making ill-natured remarks and no one 
paid any attention to it except Ralph, with 
whom it rankled. Allan’s father and mother 
were abroad and Ralph’s mother had made him 
a member of her household for the school year. 
Ralph, who cared for few fellows, proceeded in 
his own mind to monopolize Allan’s friendship 
and he had not yet learned that the more genial 
boy must, with his disposition, be friends with 
all pleasant people. Then, too, Allan’s out- 
spokenness had never been annoying before •,but 
then they were alone ; now it was different. 

“Whose house is it? What is its story? There 
must be a romantic one !” exclaimed Vivian, 
while Sidney and Allan exchanged glances but 
said nothing. 

Nobody answered. At last Mr. Grafton, who 
had driven to a point from which the house 
could be seen to the best advantage, said : — 

“The house belongs, I believe, to a gentle- 
man by the name of Raymond. I am told that 
there are all sorts of romantic stories about it ; 
but I suspect that a new incident has been 
added by each narrator.” 

“Never mind, pile it up,” said Vivian. 

“Make it weird,” and Allan put the whole 
effect of his late course of elocution into the 
word. 


36 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Tina crept close to Ruth, and under cover of 
a parasol held her hand. “Don’t mind them,” 
whispered that comforting maiden, so Tina 
smiled and tried to enjoy herself; but Vivian, 
who had seen the clasped hands, had laughed 
and that had made Tina miserable. 

“The house is not as old as it looks,” began 
Mr. Grafton. “It is neglect which gives it this 
appearance. My grandfather was a friend of 
the Mr. Raymond who built this house. He says 
that among the older members of the family 
were some great travelers who transmitted a 
roving disposition to their descendents. The 
father of the present Mr. Raymond never set- 
tled down in this place. It was left to the care 
of tenants until some years ago when the owner, 
after a short residence abroad, came to look 
after it. He cleared up the grounds, improved 
the walks and drives, built a new lodge and be- 
gan that part of the house that looks like a 
ruin and is covered with woodbine.” Mr. Graf- 
ton paused— 

“But the romantic part?” 

“And the ghost?” 

“I am thinking which of the stories will 
please you best.” 

“The most romantic, of course.” 

“Some say there were spirits in the house 
and that was why he gave it up. Some say he 
was about to marry a lady who died on the day 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


37 


set for the wedding. Others say he was be- 
trothed to a foreign princess who could not get 
permission to marry him. When he found the 
matter was hopeless he turned artist, painted her 
miniature and, taking it with him, settled down 
in a little chalet from which he could watch 
the smoke rise every day from the chimneys of 
her father’s palace. I suppose now she is dead 
and that is her spirit who, as a ghost, inhabits 
this place. That is, if there must be a ghost to 
satisfy you.” 

A short cross-road led through a denser wood 
than any they had yet seen. At first the house 
was lost, then they entered a large gateway at 
the back of the grounds and approaching the 
house drove around it. A tall gray stone struc- 
ture with castellated turrets met their • view. 
Stillness everywhere. 

Only in the lodge were signs of life. Oppo- 
site it was a boy with a camera. He raised his 
cap in recognition while the boys simply stared 
at him. Then Allan and Sidney sprang from 
the wagon, caught him by the hands, clapped 
him on the shoulder and put so many questions 
that all the others could understand were his 
replies, given in a singularly clear and pene- 
trating voice : 

“No, I didn’t know you were in the neighbor- 
hood.” 

“With my uncle. He’s away now looking up 
a tutor.” 


38 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘Yes, been living at the lodge.” 

“Must cram a little. You know I am behind 
in the solids because I would have my music.” 

“Oh,” exclaimed Sidney, “come and join us! 
Grafton is just pining for more work.” 

In the meantime the girls were besieging 
Ralph. 

“Who is he? Where does he come from?” 

“He’s our classmate, MacKim, Gerald Mac- 
Kim,” answered Ralph dryly. “He is always 
playing the violin and so he is behind in a lot 
of his studies.” 

Ralph was curt because he did not relish hav- 
ing Allan demonstrative over anyone else. He 
did not reciprocate in kind but he liked to mo- 
nopolize his friendship. 

When there was a pause MacKim stepped 
toward the carriage. “How are you, Wayne? 
Hello Ernest! Mr. Grafton too,” shaking hands 
with that gentleman. 

“Yes, he keeps us all in order,” said Sidney; 
“and let me present you to the belles of the 
Beeches.” 

“All silver tongued, I have no doubt,” with 
a bow worthy of Sidney and with an air which 
he seemed to have caught from his association 
with older men. 

Having mentioned the girls by name, Sidney 
said: “Ruth, tell Aunt Margaret when you get 
home that I am walking back and will bring 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


39 


our friend, Gerald MacKim, with me. I know 
that she can give him a hammock, and he never 
sleeps in anything else.” 

“Never, even on a polar expedition,” solemnly 
answered Gerald. “But seriously, Sidney, I 
cannot do that, you know. I’ll come over to- 
morrow hut — ” 

“Nonsense, we want you to-day.” 

“Sorry, hut to-day I’m too busy,” said Mac- 
Kim, stepping hack to his instrument. 

“Can’t he tell us about the ghost?” asked 
Vivian. “He ought to know if he is living 
right here. Is there a ghost anyway?” 

“In The Castle? Did you wish one to he 
there?” 

“Yes, by all means.” 

“Then there is. The most interesting ghost 
you ever saw.” 

The horses were growing restive and Mr. 
Grafton allowed them to go on. Gerald renewed 
his promise to see them the next day and in a 
few minutes the party were again at The Beeches. 

“Are you satisfied? What did you see?” 
Miss Howe put the questions as she met them, 
looking paler than usual, on the piazza. 

“A charming young gentleman,” answered 
Ruth. 

“And pray. Miss Sherwood,” Sidney assumed 
an aggrieved air, “why must MacKim be desig- 
nated as a gentleman when the rest of us are 
simply boys?” 


40 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“My classmate, MacKim, Aunt Margaret,” 
explained Sidney. “He is staying at the lodge 
over there. Ruth is right in calling him a gen- 
tleman ; we boys might all learn good manners 
from him.” 

“He is the best fellow in the world, ”said Allan. 

“Very well,” said Miss Howe, “we’ll welcome 
him to The Beeches;” and all except Tina and 
Ralph expressed their delight at this promised 
addition to their party. Ralph was unreasonably 
vexed with Allan and Tina had not yet suffi- 
ciently recovered herself to care about anything 
or anybody new. But nobody could stay vexed 
with Allan, and that evening Ralph said : “Why 
didn’t you tell me this morning that you were 
going to grind; I would have gone with you.” 

“But you haven’t anything to make up; you 
touch high water mark in everything.” 

“Maybe I could have helped you.” 

“What, and deprive old Grafton of his object 
in life; but it’s awfully good of you just the 
same,” he hastened to add, for he saw that 
Ralph did not quite like what he had said. 

It was a lovely moonlight night and after 
sitting on the piazza awhile, they had strolled 
down by twos and threes into the grounds, some 
of them going as far as the road. Ralph, to 
whom moonlight and daylight were pretty much 
alike — the hidden poetry of his soul being yet 
in slumber — was trying to interest Allan in the 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


41 


relative merits of Yale and Harvard, his decision 
as to a college not being yet made, while Allan, 
with a bright thought born of the moonlight, was 
hunting for an excuse to leave Ralph without 
hurting his feelings. All at once Mr. Grafton 
called out: ‘‘Oh, Ralph, help me won’t you? Mr. 
Howe wishes to know — ” 

As Ralph turned away, Allan hastened after 
Sidney. “Come quick,” he said, taking his arm. 

“What is it?” asked Sidney. 

“My lady’s champion hies away on midnight 
quest,” was the answer. 

“What on earth do you mean?” 

“I mean that I saw Nelson fixing up a dark 
lantern to-day and I’ve just seen the romantic 
old fellow stealing along there by the edge of 
the road.” 

“Well, what of it?” 

“Oh, Sir Philip, Sir Philip, how dull you are. 
He has made up his mind to find that ring, and 
if we follow we can find out where it was lost. 
I have not had a dream about it ; but I have a 
conviction that I shall find the jewel.” 

Allan was right. Nelson took the straightest 
course to Castle Silent, and avoiding the en- 
trance, went to the unfinished part and with the 
aid of his lantern explored one side of the 
building. He stooped and picked up something 
from the ground, gave a low whistle of satisfac- 
tion and started homeward. 


42 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘His spectacles,” laughed Allan; “whatever 
would Nelson have done if he had lost them.” 

“I am glad we followed,” said Sidney. “He 
has been looking here during the day for that 
ring and depend upon it, where those glasses lay 
is the spot ! Now it only requires digging and 
determination.” 

“What will they think of us?” asked Allan* 
“It must be getting late, and your Aunt Margaret 
asked us to come into the house for games.” 

“Isn’t there a short cut back?” 

“There must be; we’ll risk it.” 

Across the first field or two it was plain sail- 
ing, then, — “Ugh,” exclaimed Allan, “barbed 
wire ! ’ ’ 

Then came a strange voice — two strange 
voices : — 

“So we’ve caught you at last. Mighty good 
fun ain’t it, fur you college chaps to steal chick- 
ens? We’ll show ye ’t ain’t so funny as ye 
think.” 

“But we are not college chaps,” asserted Allan. 

“Humph !” growled the elder of their captors, 
“ye cyant fool me, ye fooled the constable 
t’other night, but ye cyant fool me. Come 
along.” 


CHAPTER V. 


THE FISHING EXPEDITION. 

Great was the wonderment when, after an hour 
had passed, Sidney and Allan did not appear. 

‘‘Perhaps they did not know we expected 
them to play games,” said Miss Howe; “but 
here they come now.” 

“Where have you been?” “Why, are you hurt?” 
and, “Tell us all about it, quick!” were some of 
the exclamations which greeted them. 

“Where is Uncle Earle?” asked Sidney. 

“In his study,” was the answer, and Sidney 
disappeared, leaving Allan to give whatever 
whimsical explanation might occur to him. 

“You see,” said Allan, “we knew there were 
games afoot, and not being very proficient, w^e 
went out to play the game of bramble-bush by 
way of practice. Sidney didn’t accomplish 
much but I have taken a diploma. Please let me 
have a hand at bezique.” 

“Then you won’t tell us?” 

“I have told, haven’t I?” said Allan, and re- 
adjusting the handkerchief on his left hand so 
that he could manage his cards, he settled down 
to the game. 


43 


44 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘Uncle Earle ! ” , 

“Yes, Sidney.” 

“I’m sorry to interrupt you; but the fact is 
Allan and I were mistaken for chicken thieves 
just now and we could not get back as early as 
we intended.” 

“You were not playing any practical jokes on 
the farmers, were you?” 

“Not at all.” 

“I am glad; it has always seemed to me that 
life could be made spicy without that particular 
kind of diversion.” 

“But it seems that somebody else had been 
playing jokes. Fortunately for us the real offen- 
ders were captured soon after we were.” 

“And there is nothing else to tell?” 

Sidney hesitated an instant, then looking his 
uncle full in the face he said: “No, there is 
nothing else to tell.” 

“And much not to tell, ’’said Mr. Howe, laugh- 
ing. “Very well, I am always sure of one thing 
and that is that I can trust you to be gentlemen. 
By the way, have you boys any plans for to- 
morrow ? I find that I have to be away the greater 
part of the day.” 

“Nothing special, but Gerald MacKim is com- 
ing over in the morning.” 

“MacKim ! Is he at the lodge?” 

“Yes, with his uncle, Mr. Raymond.” 

Mr. Howe paused as if thinking intently, and 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


45 


after a moment’s hesitation asked: ‘‘Is MacKim 
to remain all summer?” 

“Yes, he is to have a tutor at the lodge. Mr. 
Raymond goes abroad again next week. I wish 
Gerald could study with us under Grafton.” 

“Very well, if Mr. Grafton is willing I have 
no objection,” and as Sidney thanked him and 
left the study, Mr. Howe with a grave face 
turned again to his desk. 

They were all on the piazza when Gerald Mac- 
Kim presented himself the next morning to see 
the boys and to pay his respects to Mrs. and 
Miss Howe. Sidney, who stood by his aunt, 
saw her flush and step back so that she might 
not meet him at once ; but, as he was presented 
to her mother, she came forward with the sweet 
graciousness of her usual manner. Mr. Howe’s 
keen searching look changed to one of cordial 
approval as Gerald spoke to one after another 
and, with an easy grace, fell in at once with the 
spirit of the party. 

“Have you any plan for to-day?” asked Ger- 
ald. 

“Nothing in particular, why?” answered Sid- 
ney. 

“I could show you fellows some good fishing 
if you are up to it.” 

“Indeed we are.” 

“What’s the reason girls can’t fish!” 

Gerald looked up at Vivian Russell but said 


46 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


nothing ; it had not occurred to him that the 
idea would enter the head of any of the girls. 

“I am sure we could; why couldn’t we?” she 
persisted. 

Gerald did not answer ; with a comical shrug, 
expressing that the question was too much for 
him, he waved his hand toward the other boys 
clustered in a group near him, referring it to 
them collectively. 

“Why you’d get wet,” stammered Ernest, 
who always braced up to the occasion when any- 
thing was expected of him. 

“You’d scare all the fish,” said Ralph. 

With all his good nature Sidney could not help 
being annoyed at Ralph’s contemptuous tone, 
and he was on the point of making a reply for 
which he would have been sorry, when Allan 
broke in with: — 

“You know in trout fishing you have to wade 
up the brooks and you slip and fall and your 
gown gets wet and you have no end of a horrid 
time.” 

Miss Howe was smiling ; it was so evident 
that the boys would like to go off by themselves 
for a good time, the prospect of it growing more 
attractive as the idea developed in their minds. 

“I should think it would be horrid.” Of all 
the girls Helen was the only one not thoroughly 
imbued with the spirit of the outdoor life. All 
the new gowns, a little longer than usual, to make 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


47 


her seem a young lady, about which she had 
written to Ruth, had great fascination and she 
liked to put them on and sit on the piazza as 
they were doing now. Up to this time there 
had been little opportunity for this sort of thing. 
Hasty toilets for supper after long walks or 
drives had been the rule. Evenings were short 
for they had been tired enough with their active 
exertions to go early to bed. 

‘‘But I’d like to know, Ruth Sherwood, what 
you meant by having us bring such a costume 
as you did if we are not to go fishing.” 

“I didn’t mean that, Vivian dear, there are 
some ravines to go through when we need to 
dress in that way. But I think we might go 
fishing,” this with a teasing look at the boys, 
who were growing anxious as to the result of the 
argument. 

“This is too important a question to be settled 
this morning.” It was Mr. Howe speaking in a 
tone w’hich betokened a quick decision of the 
matter: “If you wish to go fishing to-day” — 
turning to the boys — “you must go by yourselves 
and let Nelson drive you. Later in the season, 
tramp if you please, but I do not think you are 
quite up to it yet.” 

“May we start pretty soon?” asked Gerald; 
“every minute counts now.” 

“As soon as we can get our fishing tackle 
ready,” said Sidney, starting toward the door. 


48 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“And get into some old clothes,” said Gerald. 

“Why you’re not in yours, or you must be a 
terrific swell when you are in your good ones.” 

“I came to pay my respects to the ladies and 
didn’t wish to be taken for a barbarian. We 
must go back to the cottage anyway for my rod.” 

Sidney had his pet rod, so had Allan. The 
others with the exception of Ralph, did not 
know about the fishing. He was far too prudent 
to squander his spending money on such things; 
but, fortunately for everybody’s enjoyment, Mr. 
Howe had sent up from New York an ample sup- 
ply which had been stored in the carriage house 
to which Sidney led the boys after they had 
donned their pirate costumes. 

“What a lot of fixings!” exclaimed Allan. 

“Lucky the girls didn’t carry their point,” 
said Ralph, “they would have spoiled some of the 
best rods the first time.” As he spoke he pro- 
ceeded to help himself to the best the stock af- 
forded in view of any such catastrophy in the 
future as he had imagined. 

“What fiies shall you take, Sidney?” 

“Everything gorgeous. The Royal Coachman, 
Queen of the Water, and — ” 

“It’s a better ‘Shoemaker’ day,” said Gerald 
dryly. 

“I’ll bet you it isn’t. I’ll stake my fortune 
on these splendid fellows.” 

“I don’t know what you call this,” said Allan, 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


49 


‘‘but he’s medium and I’ll pin my faith to 
him.” 

Ernest stood an interested siDectator, not 
touching rod or reel or fly. It was still too much 
of a fairy tale for him to realize his part in it. 

“Hurry up, laggard. Make your choice or 
you’ll be late.” 

“Oh Sidney, I can’t.” 

“Nonsense, I’ll choose for you. There, put 
your creel on so, fasten these flies in your hat 
and — I say, fellows, here’s a pretty go, nobody’s 
got any hobnailed shoes. What’ll we do?” 

“Does this box belong to the outfit?” 

“Yes, maybe they’re in there. Hammer and 
chisel, quick!” 

Out they came, hobnailed shoes to supply the 
party. Some a little large, but they were voted 
all right. 

“What a perfect Fairy Godmother this uncle 
of yours is,” saidMacKim. 

“He’s just the splendidest fellow in the 
world,” was Sidney’s reply, as he took a swift 
survey to see that all were supplied. 

“Forward, march !” It was Gerald’s voice, but 
he gave Sidney a little push toward the head of 
the column, retreating himself to the rear. 

“Oh how picturesque!” exclaimed Ruth as 
they filed up to the piazza. 

“Wait, do wait till I get my sketch book. I 
haven’t had such an opportunity for an age.” 


60 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Couldn’t think of it, Miss Russell. You’d 
exhibit us in the next Academy and ruin our 
pretentions to beauty forever.” 

“Sir Philip, for an elegant gentleman, you are 
the rudest person I have met.” 

“I am only a pirate now. Miss Vivian. Don’t 
confound me with my proper character, please.” 

The bays stood patiently before the big wagon 
until the last bit of luggage was stowed. 

“I should think such a hubbub would start 
your fiery steeds,” said Allan, who had taken 
his place by Nelson. 

“Horses is just like boys,” was the reply. 
“Train ’em to mind and they’ll mind. Let ’em 
take the bit in their own mouths and there’s no 
tollin’ where they’ll fetch up.” 

The scramble for seats was over ; all were in 
the wagon except Gerald who had turned toward 
the piazza. 

“Pon my honor if Lord Chesterfield isn’t go- 
ing to say good-bye in due form. I vow I’ll not 
be outdone in politeness,” and Sidney sprang 
from the wagon. 

MacKim doffed his cap, offered his hand to 
Mrs. and Miss Howe and promised to take good 
care of the party. 

Sidney made his most elaborate bow and 
promised to take care of Gerald. 

“Come along,” said Allan to Ernest, half 
pulling him out of the wagon. 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


51 


‘ ‘Oh dear, she mightn’t like it, ’ ’ said the boy ; 
but dutifully followed, made an awkward bow 
and hurried down the steps while Allan laughing 
merrily made his adieux. Ralph felt it was great 
nonsense, a most unnecessary delay. However, 
he managed to put a pretty good face on it by 
keeping up with his cousin and bowing stiffly 
as he passed the ladies. 

The girls enjoyed it, as they would anything 
which delayed the departure; but with all the 
delays the boys were off at last. 

“We’re going to be gone all day?” 

“Yes.” 

“And nobody has had the forethought to pro- 
vide luncheon.” Ralph was troubled. 

“Plenty o’ folks has hindsight but not so 
many on them has foresight.” Nelson laughed 
to himself under his big straw hat. 

“What are we going to eat, Sidney? Do you 
know?” 

“Fish.” 

“Suppose we don’t catch any?” 

“So much the worse.” 

Gerald was not long in transforming himself 
into a pirate. Then, with a laugh at Ralph’s ex- 
pense, he asked him to help carry a basket 
from the lodge. The corner of a brown loaf 
peeped from a napkin; some eggs were visible 
below. 

“Oh!”said Ralph, the only comment made as 
they lifted it into the wagon. — 


52 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


There wa^ something solemn about the grand 
woods which they entered after leaving the open, 
comparatively uninteresting road. School talk, 
reminiscences of old escapades, interchange of 
news from vacation letters, 'were for the mo- 
ment forgotten. 

“I’ve been here before. ’’Nelson’s tone was ex- 
planatory. 

“How still it is.” 

“How big the trees are.” 

“It’s the kind ’o place, boys, that makes ye 
think of your backslidin’s and short comin’s.I’m 
allers glad to get on t’other side of it.” 

The branches for the most part met overhead. 
A single bird note fell on the ear. That was the 
only sound, except the tramp of the horses’ 
hoofs and the turning of the wheels. Rich ferns 
grew by the wayside, here and there a rock lay 
seemingly misplaced among the green. 

“Here we are again,” said Gerald. “What 
was I saying? Oh I know, that everybody has 
some superstition.” 

“I haven’t,” said Ralph indignantly. 

“I’ll bet you have.” 

The talk was cut short by Nelson stopping 
the horses at a word from Gerald. 

“What are we stopping here for? There isn’t 
any water near here.” 

“We are almost to it, we walk in from here. 
Nelson, do you know the short cut to the foot of 
the hill where the stream comes out?” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY ' 53 


“I reckon there aint airy road about here but 
what I knowed afore you youngsters was born.” 

“All right, meet us there, will you? And, I 
say, if any of you fellows have valuable watches 
and things you’d better leave them, with Nelson 
if you want them to keep dry.” 

“I left my watch home,” said Ralph, “but I 
shouldn’t like this little pocket-book to get 
w^et.” 

“It isn’t much of a one to look at,” said Sid- 
ney. 

“No, but it was my grandfather’s. He car- 
ried it a long time and was always lucky; my 
father had it too, and wms called fortunate. I 
have an idea that I shall be lucky too, so long as 
I carry it.” 

“A mad little man was my friend Ralph, 

And a mad little man was he. 

No superstitious whim he’d own. 

Pie swore indignantly,” 

sang Allan. 

“Pretty impromptu for a class poet.” 

“It’s a quotation from your prize lyric, Sid.” 

“If you’ll take two of the fellows in through 
here, Sidney,” said Gerald, “straight through 
this opening. I’ll strike it a bit lower down with 
the others and we’ll all have some chance. We 
have the best pool but you have more stream. 
Fish down till you see us.” 

“If I was you’uns, ’’Nelson put one foot on the 


54 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


wagon box, and rested an elbow on his knee with 
his chin in his hand, “I’d take a snack afore I 
I struck in.” 

“Capital idea. But don’t waste time, boys. 
There’s the basket, be careful of the salt in case 
we get some fish and want to cook them.” 

“Talkin’ about horses reminds me,” said Nel- 
son — nobody had spoken of horses but Nelson 
had this on his mind — “them thoroughbreds is 
due to-morrer.” 

“What, all the horses? Are they coming to- 
morrow?” 

“Whoop-la!” and up went the caps into the 
air. 

“Yaas, and if I could get some real stiddy 
youngsters^to help bring ’em down I might take 
’em with me ; but I reckon the farmer’s boys’ll 
get the job.” 

“Now Nelson,” said Sidney, “you know we 
are real stiddy and just the help you want.” 

“Wal, I suppose you might as well begin, for 
as I understand the thing, Mr. Howe is sendin’ 
up these bosses so that you can all ride and 
break your necks, gals included, and I s’pose 
the sooner it’s over the better.” 

“All right, we’ll be on hand. What time in 
the morning shall we be ready?” 

“In the morning? Oh I sha’n’t start very early.. 
I did calkerlate to start about three, but I 
reckon four will do.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


65 


“Three o’clock in the morning!” exclaimed 
Allan. 

“Oh, Nelson doesn’t think anything of that,” 
said Sidney. 

“No, nor I,” added Gerald. “I’ve been off 
many a time early in the morning to fish, and I 
wish it were earlier now. Let us go ; there isn’t 
a minute to lose.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


CROWNING THE KNIGHTS. 

“Why not go to our picnic ground at Deer- 
foot to-day?” asked Mrs. Howe, when the last 
fish line had trailed out of sight. 

“Oh, yes, let us go !” and the girls ran away 
to get ready, leaving Mrs. Howe and her daughter 
talking together. 

“I am much pleased with Gerald, Margaret.” 
There was an interrogative tone in Mrs. Howe’s 
voice. 

“Yes,” answered Margaret, turning to the 
window, “he is very attractive.” 

“It will be lonely for him at the lodge, — ” 
the older lady watched the effect of her words, 
but Margaret did not reply. 

“I suppose that Sidney would like to invite 
him here,” continued Mrs. Howe. 

“If you would like it mother” — Miss Howe 
turned toward her — “there is no reason why 
he should not come.” 

“To think,” said Ruth, when girls, rugs, 
books, fancy work and parasols were all depos- 
ited on the rocks, “to think all these days have 
passed and my chest has never been opened.” 

66 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


57 


“The real reason,” said Vivian, “why I have 
not come down here by myself and broken it 
open is because I believed it to be Pandora’s 
box. I was afraid that if T let out all the buzzing 
things our summer might be spoiled.” 

“Such virtuous forbearance must be re- 
warded,” said Ruth, tossing her a brass key, 
“you shall open the treasure box.” 

“Oh, Helen, Miriam, look!” exclaimed Viv- 
ian, “a beautiful picnic outfit ! Dishes, glasses, 
spoons, Japanese napkins, everything.” 

“That flat rock is the table,” said Ruth. 

“And this one the sideboard,” asked Helen, 
“with a little shelf above? May we set them 
now, or is it too early?” 

“As you please; but Aunt Margaret is going 
to read to us before luncheon.” 

“First we must gather sticks for the fire,” 
said Miss Howe, to which they all agreed. 

Time never hung heavy at the Howe picnics 
and this one was no exception to the rule. Lun- 
cheon seemed to come early, and when they had 
finished Mrs. Howe said : 

“I have a proposition to make which 1 am 
not at all sure will meet with your favor.” 

“Oh, yes! Anything that you say.” 

“I am not sure about this. In some ways I am 
pretty old fashioned and I think that every girl 
should know how to make good bread and good 
coffee. Mr. Howe proposes that you shall all learn 


58 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


to do so while you are here and that each one 
of you young ladies shall be able before you 
go to select judiciously the materials for, and 
direct the preparation of a complete dinner.” 

“The young lady from Philadelphia desires 
the definition of a complete dinner,” said Miss 
Howe. 

“Will the inquiring young lady give her own 
idea?” 

“As I am expected to cook it,” said Vivian, 
“I wdll take the complete dinner of the Irish 
peasant, potatoes and salt.” 

“Think of oflPering that when cooked, to Mr. 
Howe,” said Miriam. 

“What is your definition, then?” 

‘T should go to the cook books,” answered 
Miriam. — “I know there is one with dinners for 
every day in the year — I should choose one out 
of that and then learn to cook it.” 

“What would you do, Tina?” 

“Why, I should think up some time when I 
was desperately hungry, what I most wanted 
to eat; I should think that would be it.” 

“I fear that would be out of proportion,” 
said Miss Howe. “Hunger is the best sauce 
and you would be apt to have more sauce than 
dinner.” 

“But I like sauce best,” replied Tina; “what 
does Ruth say?’’ 

“Soup and dessert,” promptly replied that 
maiden. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


69 


‘‘I should think,” Helen spoke in an excited 
tone, “that a complete dinner would be the kind 
that we have here every day. I heard Mr. 
Howe say that it was his idea of real comfort. 
I wish I could cook such a one.” 

“Hurrah for you, Helen!” said Vivian; “I 
always knew you had a soul above gowns if 
you would only give it a chance to flutter.” 

Helen blushed but added: — “Do you really 
think we could learn to cook such dinners as you 
have. Miss Howe?” 

Miss Howe looked grave and did not reply at 
once. 

“lam sure you can, dear;” it was Mrs. 
Howe’s encouraging voice. She had watched 
all of the girls with keen interest and she was 
greatly pleased by this unexpected question 
from the one apparently the least practical. 

“Miss Howe?” 

“Yes, Vivian.” 

“You do not believe very much in our ability 
to cook, do you? You do not look enthusiastic.” 

“To tell the truth, girls,” said Miss Howe, 
“I must admit I am not enthusiastic about it. 
I try to be equal to all my brother’s surprises; 
but this time the undertaking seems too great. 
However, we will rise to the occasion. I am glad 
the beginning is to be bread and coffee, with 
an ideal scheme for the rest, and I have no doubt I 
shall be surprised by the result.” 


60 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Will you let them try more if they wish to ; 
or would such an unusual proceeding cause a 
kitchen stampede?” 

“There might be a sudden desire to visit home 
relatives ; but Martha and her daughter are 
always ready in an emergency, you know.” 

“Then I am to understand that I can indulge 
as many vagaries as I please.” 

“How are we to begin?” asked Ruth, “are 
the boys to have anything to do with it?” 

“Boys in the kitchen!” exclaimed Vivian. 

“Boys baking bread ! ” said Miriam. “I have 
heard of their making coifee at a picnic ; but 
bread! Why, the idea !” 

“No,” said Mrs. Howe, “I think we do not 
want the boys. M}’^ plan would be that you 
should altogether take an object lesson first in 
coffee and then in bread-making, after which 
one of you might try by herself and then the 
others in turn.” 

“I should like to take charge of this undertak- 
ing, myself,” added Mrs. Howe. 

“It will tire you quite too much, mother.” 

“Not if I can choose my time, and we need not 
keep it up long enough for anyone to get tired.” 

A little later when they were walking home, 
Vivian asked Ruth, “How old is your sweet 
grandmama?” 

“Seventy-two.” 

“Seventy-two! Wait a minute, let me try to 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


61 


realize it. Seventy — why seventy isn’t simply 
old, it’s aged, and yet Mrs. Howe is just as young 
in some ways as we are.” 

‘‘Younger in some, Uncle Earle says.’/ 

“That’s the way I’m going to he,”said Yivian; 
“the older I grow the j^ounger I am going to 
get,” and she went in to consult Mrs. Howe at 
once about the bread-making while they waited 
for the boys to return. 

“I should think they would come . by this 
time, ’’said Ruth, as the twilight began to deepen. 

“Hark!” 

Miss Howe stepped out on the piazza, eagerly 
followed by the girls. A sound of voices in the 
distance warranted the announcement : “They 
are coming.” 

“How slow they are 1” Vivian was growing 
impatient. 

“Nelson always drives slowly when he comes 
home from fishing,” answered Ruth. 

“Yes,” said her Aunt Margaret, “he likes to 
prolong the pleasure of a good time.” 

“I declare they are singing, ‘Three Blind 
Mice’.” 

“No, Tina, it is something about fish — listen.” 

“Three prime trout, 

Caught in a pool, 

They all ran after the same fell hook 

Caught by the flies from the fiddler’s book. 

Three prime trout.” 

The round grew a little mixed as they came 


62 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


up in front of the piazza ; but the voices were 
very merry. A hasty unloading followed. 
“Three cheers and a tiger for Gerald!” shouted 
Sidney. They were given with a will and the 
hero of t"lie hour, holding in his open creel the 
three largest trout that had been caught, walked 
up to Miss Howe and presented them to her, 
while a medley of voices followed. 

“Did you really catch all the big ones?” 

“Sidney, let’s see yours.” 

“Allan, how many have you got?” 

“Why, Ernest, that’s very good for the first 
time.” 

Ralph stood a little in the background, a slight 
wonderment on his face. Nobody asked about 
his until Miss Howe said: “Ralph, you are so 
quiet you are going to surprise us, I am sure.” 

Then it seemed perfectly natural to him that 
he had not joined in with the others, for here 
was a good reason, and he displayed his trophies. 
“Not so large as Gerald’s, you see. Aunt Mar- 
garet, but more of them.” He spoke slowly 
for there was a little feeling towards Allan who 
might, he thought — since he had no display of 
his own to make — have put his friend forward 
as one of the most successful fishermen of the 
day. 

“Would you like them for supper, or to mor- 
row morning?” 

“Oh, Aunt Margaret!” Sidney threw such 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


63 


despair into his tone that Miss Howe immediately 
answered : 

“Very well, it only means a difference between 
supper as soon as the fish can be gotten ready 
and supper as soon as you can get ready.” 

“We are hungry as bears ; but we will wait 
if the others will.” 

“Of course we will,” a chorus from the girls. 

“I say. Miss Howe, where’ d I better put this 
flower truck? Them youngsters is all fur fish 
now ; but nothin’ would do but we must bring 
home half of the woods besides.” 

“Oh, Miss Howe,” it was Ernest’s voice, “let 
me help; it’s the loveliest laurel flowers, ever 
so much handsomer than those we found the 
other day. Allan said we would make up a box 
of them for the Flower Mission and Sidney said 
we could pick a lot of daisies to-morrow to put 
with them.” 

Ruth and Miriam hastened to the wagon ; the 
others were more interested in the fish. 

“How strange,” said Miriam. 

“What is strange?” 

“Why to think that the boys should have 
brought flowers all the way from the woods for 
the Flower Mission, and they don’t make any 
fuss about it either.” 

“That’s what I like about boys, ” said Ruth, 
“real boys, I mean, like Sidney and the rest of 
them; when they want to do a nice thing they 


64 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


just up and do it. Now we girls talk about a 
good act and fuss over it and act half the time 
as if we were ashamed of it.” 

Miriam turned her face away for she felt that 
Ruth could see her flush even in the darkening 
light; it was so exactly what she had often 
done and felt. 

‘‘Why shouldn’t we enjoy them to-night?” 
asked Miss Howe. “Take them in, as they are 
in great branches, the big jars will hold them 
and they will get a good drink before morning.” 

“A bower of bloom,” said Sidney, when they 
went into the dining-room for supper, “I had no 
idea we gathered so much. I thought we lost 
almost no time from fishing.” 

“Tell me, Vivian,” he asked a few minutes 
after-ward, “did you ever in your life taste such 
a delicious morsel as you have just eaten?” 

“Yes.” 

“Where?” indignantly. 

“Yes, wUere?” Allan and Gerald together. 

“The little fish I ate before this, and the one 
before that was even more delicious. Sidney,” 
with a teasing air, “you should never, never 
take more than one mouthful of trout. It is so 
bewilderingly enchanting, that you should re- 
member it forever.” 

“Oh!” sighed Allan, dropping his fork with 
a mock gesture of despair ; “to think how soon 
it will be over.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


65 


“Courage,” said Vivian, “there are other 
dainties to come another day.” 

“What do you think grandmama proposed to 
us to-day?” asked Ruth. 

“Something fine, of course.” 

“She says that all of us girls are to learn to 
make coffee and bake bread and that you boys 
are to be unprejudiced judges of who makes the 
best.” 

“Oh now, see here, you’re joking, you know 
you are. Isn’t she. Aunt Margaret ?” said Sidney. 

Miss Howe slowly shook her head; but she 
was thinking that this rather novel scheme could 
scarcely be accomplished. 

“I don’t see,” Ralph broke the sudden silence, 
“why girls shouldn’t learn to cook now, just as 
well as they used to.” 

“How well did they used to cook?” 

“Well I mean, cook now as a matter of course.” 

“They haven’t any time as I see,” said Sidney. 

“But they used to have time, what do they 
do with it now,” persisted Ralph. 

“They don’t go fishing for one thing,” said 
Sidney. 

“No,” answered Ralph, not smiling with the 
rest, “they don’t weave nor spin nor cook nor — . 
What do they do, Miss Howe?” 

“They spend more years in school for one 
thing.” 

“And give more time to study afterward,” 
said Miriam. 


68 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Doesn’t dress take more time now?” asked 
Helen. 

“I suppose so.” 

“I’ve heard my grandmama say,” said Tina, 
“that in these days people just visit when they 
go out, but when sle was young they did some 
work while they talked.” 

“Then, besides, the gentlemen did a great deal 
of reading aloud,” said Mrs. Howe. 

“A good idea,” said Ruth. “We’ll make the 
boys do it.” 

“Thank you kindly.” Sidney bowed. “We 
shall emerge from our crudeness,! have no doubt, 
into perfect gentlemen of the old school. What’s 
the matter, Al?” for Allan had made a sudden 
dive with his hand under the table. 

“Nothing, only I thought I felt a buckle 
sprouting on my shoe, and I can feel lace ruffles 
at my wrist,” 

Ralph did not feel that the matter had been 
satisfactorily settled and insisted on continuing 
the subject. At last Miss Howe said: “Ask 
your uncle what he thinks about it.” 

“Why don’t girls have more time?” said Mr. 
Howe. “Dear me how should I know? But since 
you ask me, I will try to answer.” 

“Nobody has so much time. In the first place 
the world has grown smaller. Rapid means of 
communication have opened up to us regions 
that were only speculated about before. We 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


67 


travel more, and those who do not travel keep 
up active correspondence with those who do. 
Houses are more elaborate, requiring more com- 
plicated service, and more from the executive 
at the head of affairs. Dress takes more time, 
social duties as at present managed are more ex- 
acting. Avenues of knowledge are opened in 
every direction, not only through home study, 
but by societies of all kinds, parlor lectures, 
natural history, excursions, musicals. Ease and 
affluence bring leisure to parents to train their 
children’s minds. Young girls have so many 
things before them the difficulty is what to 
choose. 

“There ! I have given you almost a column 
for an encyclopedia,and I suppose it is all right ; 
but now let me give you the true reason why 
girls do not have time. Evenings do not count; 
morning is the time to accomplish wonders and, 
as a rule, we sit up so late that we have no 
mornings to speak of.” 

“That’s so,” said Ralph. “Uncle Earle is right.” 

“That is only because you like to get up and 
grub early in the morning,” said Allan. 

“No it isn’t, the afternoon is good for nothing.” 

“It’s the time when 1 feel most up to things,” 
said Ernest. 

“Give me the midnight oil,” said Sidney. 

“Sometimes,” continued Mr. Howe thought- 
fully, “I think that girls and older women have 


68 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


lees time because there is a lack of chivalry 
among the men. I know some men and some hoys 
who are much too selfishly exacting to realize 
how much of other people’s time they consume. 
Where now are the knights worthy to be crowned 
by a peerless woman’s hand?” 

Ralph opened his lips to answer ;but thinking 
better of it, kept silence. Vivian, with a swift 
movement, reached one of the jars and, stripping 
some laurel leaves from a branch, began weaving 
them into a wreath, while Ruth, guessing her 
meaning, began to weave another. 

“What is the chief characteristic of a knight, 
Mr. Howe?” asked Vivian. 

“Gentleness,” was the prompt answer. “A 
true knight cares for the weak and remembers 
the suffering.”. 

With a graceful movement Vivian turned to 
where Sidney and Allan were sitting and placed 
a wreath on either head. Then, with a tragic 
air which suited her well she said, — “Where are 
the knights? Behold those who, in gathering 
fair flowers, care for the weak and remember 
the suffering; Sir Philip and — and — the other 
knight.” 

“Good for you, Vivian Russell,” said Tina. 

“Rather hard on the rest of us,” added Ger- 
ald. 

Sidney rose with a manner in keeping with 
Vivian’s. “Crowned by a peerless woman’s 
hand,” he said, as he bowed low before her. 


CHAPTER VII. 


DON FULANO. 

Each morning’s breakfast was now invested 
with especial interest and there were plenty of 
criticisms ready for Tina’s coffee. 

“Magnifica!” exclaimed Allen as he tasted 
his. 

“Oh, my!” said Ernest as he followed suit. 

“Miss Wright,” said Sidney, “if I have ever 
done anything to displease you or disturb your 
feelings, I beg your humblest pardon. I’ll get 
down on my knees if you say so, for this coffee 
is just — well it just is — that’s all!” 

Tina’s plain face was a good sight to see. 
She was fairly transformed by pleasure. 

“Why is it,” asked Ralph, “that some girls 
can do things all right and some girls can’t do 
the same thing even in the same way?” 

“Give it up,” said Allen, “but I don’t believe 
anybody will beat Helen’s bread. I wish you 
girls would tell me how long it takes you to 
make bread, and what is the mysterious ‘set?’ ” 

“To set bread, means to mix what is called 
the sponge,” answered Helen, “and stand the 
bowl with it in where it will keep warm with- 
69 


70 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


out being too hot, so that it can rise in the 
proper time and be ready to mould into loaves 
for baking.” 

“What is the proper time?” 

“All night, of course.” 

“Why must it be all night? Why could you 
not set it in the morning and bake it in the 
evening?” 

“Nobody ever heard of such a thing,” said 
Miriam; “bread must be set over night.” 

“So wise after one day’s study of the cook 
book,” said Allan ; “what will our knowledge 
be by comparison at the end of a week?” 

“Allan,” said Ralph, “I wish you wouldn’t 
be so tiresome. You say I never know when to 
drop a subject, but you’re worse. I can’t see 
what in the world you want to bother the girls 
about their bread for.” 

“Purely altruistic motives, my dear fellow.. 
If the girls fail I mean to bake some bread my- 
self, only I am sure I should not set mine over 
night.” 

“Humph !” was all Ralph vouchsafed in reply. 

Tina, who had gone away to look at her bread, 
now came back appearing not a little important, 

“A pearl of flour was on her cheek , 

And in her hair a yeast globule,” — began Allan, 

but Sidney interrupted with, — 

“Shall I go for the doctor now. Aunt Mar- 
garet, or will a little later do?” 


UNCLE EABLU’S monopoly 


71 


“What do you mean, Sidney?” 

“Why, if Helen and Tina have kneaded their 
bread as much as the cook book says I should 
think that one or both of them would have 
sprained wrists to be bound up.” 

“No, indeed!” exclaimed Tina indignantly, 
“our wrists are all right.” 

“And her hand is still capable of boxing a 
saucy boy’s ears,” said Allan. 

“Oh, I didn’t mean” — and Tina was quite 
overcome with confusion. 

“My dear child,” said Ruth, “are you never 
going to get used to Allan’s speeches?” 

“I don’t know,” answered Tina, “I’ll try.” 

“And now. Uncle Earle, can’t we go and see 
the horses?” asked Ruth; “The boys say they 
are splendid.” 

“Why, have they come?” said Helen. 

“There, we were just waiting to see if all you 
girls w’^ould find out ; Ruth [saw us come early 
with them.” 

Not much time was lost in getting to the 
stables and Gerald joined them as they reached 
the doors. Stable boys, under the direction of 
a head groom, were adding finishing touches to 
equine toilets, while Nelson’s face — as he stood 
giving a general superintendence to the whole — 
was a study to see. 

“What a superb black,” exclaimed Vivian, 
“how I should like to ride him ! But I suppose 


72 


UNCLE SABLE’S MONOPOLY 


he is too gorgeous for anybody but the biggest 
boys.” 

‘•That’s a lovely gray,” said Buth. ‘T choose 
that one for mine.” 

“I like the sorrel best,” said Sidney. 

“Suppose you all choose,” advised Mr. Howe, 
“that is, choose any but the black; Nelson tells 
me he seems a little tricky.” 

“I reckon I’d better lead him out to water,” 
said Nelson, “then you can see how he be- 
haves.” 

“Isn’t it too bad,” asked Vivian, “that such 
a superb creature should be vicious? I have 
taken a vow this moment to ride him or die in 
the attempt.” 

“Bemember, my dear,” Miss Howe spoke gen- 
tly, “that a mistaken vow is much better broken 
than kept.” 

“I know; but there he comes. Isn’t he mag- 
nificent?” 

“Don’t come too near. Miss Howe,” called 
Nelson. 

“We’re not going to; but he seems quiet.” 

“Yaas, but there’s no tollin’. I’ve been a 
studyin’ of him and I should say he’s been 
somebody’s pet, and then been abused arterwards. 
He’s suspicious an’ he thinks he’s got to defend 
himself.” 

“Won’t you conquer him after awhile?” 

“I reckon so. I’ve been a readin’ thet air 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


73 


book, ‘Black Beauty’, an’ I thought the young- 
sters made too much of a time over it; but I tell 
you every once in a while the man that wrote 
that book says suthin’.” 

“It wasn’t a man, Nelson,” said Ruth, “it was 
a woman.” 

“Pshaw!” exclaimed Nelson. 

All this time the new Black Beauty stood 
keenly alert, sensitive to every tone. All eyes 
were fastened on him and no one noticed Gerald 
until he had thrown his coat over the limb of a 
tree and put some lumps of sugar which he had 
brought from the house into his trousers’ pocket. 
Then, “Don’t speak for a minute please,Nelson,” 
he said, as he walked up firmly and faced the 
horse. 

A sudden putting forth of the delicate ears, a 
slight dilation of the nostril, an almost imper- 
ceptible quiver of the hoofs made some of the 
party tremble and hold their breath. Gerald 
looked steadily into the startled eyes, until the 
frightened look went out of them. 

“What are you afraid of, Beauty ?” he said, 
his full rich voice lingering on the words. Then 
— in a commonplace tone — “Drop the halter 
please. Nelson,” and Nelson, greatly interested 
in the result, silently complied. 

Gerald did not touch the halter. “Come and 
get a drink,” he said, pointing to the watering 
trough in front of them. With his eyes fixed 


74 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


on the big black ones he took a step forward 
and the horse followed. Gerald led the 'way to 
the cool water and soon the proud head was 
thrust into it almost up to the eyes. A long 
draught and then a shake and a snort, follow’ed 
by another plunge and a repetition of the deep 
drinking. 

“I tell ye,” said Nelson, “that air is a good 
boss an’ a good natured boss. I never see one 
drink like that, but I’d back him ag’in any boss 
agoin’.” 

Gerald smiled as he listened. He took a lump 
of sugar out of his pocket and olfered it on open 
palm to his new friend. 

“Suppose he bites,” suggested Miriam. 

“He won’t,” answered Vivian. 

Nor did he. Daintily he took the sugar and 
w^hen he had eaten it nosed about the pocket for 
another lump. 

“Didn’t I tell ye?” said Nelson, “I knowed 
he was somebody’s pet.” 

Gerald took out another lump of sugar which 
was taken as before. The third one he played 
with a moment, then gave it and emptied his 
pocket to show there was no more. After this 
he gathered up the halter, vaulted lightly on 
the horse’s back, and, rightly judging that he 
had to do with a thoroughly trained saddle 
horse, guided him up to the stables^and led him 
into his stall. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


75 


There was no sound, not a word till Gerald re- 
appeared. Then a shout and a hurrah. ‘‘Oh!” 
said Vivian, “how I wish I could have done 
that !” 

“What made you think you could conquer 
him, Gerald?” asked Mr. Howe. 

‘ ‘I can always make some of the birds and an^ 
imals in the woods come to me, and I’ve watched 
horse tamers and talked with them. I have al- 
ways wanted to try wdiat I could do with a horse 
that was called vicious.” 

“I think,” said Mr. Howe, “that you have 
won the right to ride the black if you care to.” 

“I should like it above all things,” answered 
Gerald. 

“But don’t call him Black Beauty,” said 
Ruth. “What ought he to be called. Aunt Mar- 
garet?” 

“I have only one name for such a horse as 
that,” she answered. 

“And that is — ?” 

“Don Fulano, the black horse which Winthrop 
gave to John Brent.” 

“Fulano he is by acclamation,” said Sidney,, 
when they had all expressed approval, and later 
it was found that he answerea as readily to tho 
name of Don as if he had always borne it. 

The horses needed rest after the journey; but 
toward evening it w^as decided that they might 
be taken out for a short distance, and great was 


76 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


the excitement in mounting, starting and com- 
paring steeds. 

“You are lucky to have the black, Gerald,” 
said Vivian, “but you will see; I shall ride him 
yet.” 

“I do not know why not after a time; but you 
must get acquainted with him first.” 

“I feel acquainted already with my beautiful 
bay; do you know I believe I shall call her Bay 
Beauty, it suits her well. Do you think — ” 
Vivian lowered her voice a little — “do you think 
there is any reason why a girl shouldn’t groom a 
horse? I think I’d like to do it.” 

“Why? although I believe I know.” 

“Yes, it’s because I wish Don Fulano to get 
used to me. I’ll learn on Bay Beauty first for 
she is so gentle.” 

“There is one thing you ought to do if you go 
into the stables ; you must dress for it. Those 
suits you girls call your canon costumes are just 
the thing.” 

For a short distance they rode on without 
speaking, then Gerald said: “You have some 
great project on hand; I see it trembling in the 
corner of your left eye.” 

“Not one, but two great projects.” 

“May I know what they are?” 

“One is to ride Don Fulano ; the other is to see 
the ghost of Castle Silent.” 

Gerald looked at her keenly: “You are not 
afraid of a ghost?” 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


77 


‘‘No, I dearly love a ghost story; but this one 
has n(»t half enough to it. Can’t you add some- 
thing and make it more weird for me?” 

“I might if I knew what line you wished me 
to choose. Would a murder be to your taste or 
should there be hidden money, or what?” 

‘ ‘No, not a murder, and money is not romantic ; 
but 1 can’t seem to realize the ghost of that 
princess.” 

“I should think not. It’s all arrant nonsense.” 

“I-Iow do you suppose that the idea of the 
house being haunted got about?” 

“Oh, ignorant people always make up stories 
about empty houses.” 

“You do not believe in the ghost then; I was 
afraid you didn’t.” 

“No, I don’t believe in the ghost, but what I 
do believe is — ” 

“Now don’t explain it away. I wouldn’t give 
up that ghost for anything and I mean to go 
and see it sometime.” 

“But you couldn’t.” 

“That is what the girls say; but I mean to 
run away some night and try.” 

“You do look at this moment as if you would 
try some such crazy thing.” 

“Now that isn’t nice of you and I had counted 
on you to help me.” 

“Promise me something.” 

“What?” 


78 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘That you will tell me before riding Don Ful- 
ano and that you will put this ghost idea out of 
your head.” 

“I w^dn’t promise the last part.” 

“Well, promise me that you will not attempt 
the ghost until you can ride Fulano.” 

“Agreed.” 

“I can help you about Fulano now as much as 
you like.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Mrs. Howe has invited me to come and stay 
at The Beeches.” 

“How very Jolly; and will you come.?” 

“I’d like to if I thought 1 wouldn’t make my- 
self a nuisance.” 

“The idea — as if you could. And when will 
you come?” 

“To-morrow. The lodge will be closed, you 
know, for my uncle has gone.” 

“And isn’t he coming back? I wanted to see 
him.” 

“My uncle, why?” 

“Oh, no reason in particular, only I’d gotten 
an idea that he must be nicer than uncles gener- 
ally are. I have one uncle who is a perfect dear 
and the way you speak of Mr. Raymond makes 
me think he might be like him.” 

“I wish Uncle Hugh would stay here. He is 
the best company of anyone I know ; but he is 
off this time for a longer trip than usual. He 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


79 


goes first to the Continent and later to Egypt 
and up the Nile.” 

“Does he travel just for pleasure?” 

“No, he has always been interested in archse- 
ology and this time he is going into it rather 
more deeply than before.” 

“Why doesn’t he write about his discoveries, 
or hasn’t he made any?” 

“He does write scientific articles. I’ll show 
you some if you’d like to see them.” 

“I’d just love to; but I hope they are not 
entirely beyond my comprehension.” 

Gerald looked at her with an amused smile : 
“Wouldn’t you rather read novels?” he said. 

“Not all of the time. I am not so half frivolous 
as you think.” 

“I didn’t say you were frivolous.” 

“No, but you looked it. Oh, see, there they 
come !” 

They had gotten well ahead but the others now 
joined them, making a fine appearance, and incit- 
ing their horses to greater speed. 

Gerald made an effort to keep at Vivian’s side ; 
but she said : ‘ ‘Let Fulano go, I want to see him,” 
and away he flew, breaking into a splendid run. 
At first it seemed as if he would easily distance 
all of the others; but Ernest’s chestnut, roused 
to emulation, followed rapidly and when Gerald 
reined in his proud pet, Allan was not far behind 
and Tina and Sidney sooii joined them. “I say. 


80 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


fellows, ” said Sidney, “you are very fine and 
dashy; but I’ll back this sorrel on an all day’s 
trial against any horse in the lot.” 

Each rider had some good word for his or her 
particular steed, Ruth declaring that her gray 
was better than all the bays and blacks in the 
world. 

On the homeward road were more level 
stretches as well as shaded paths and the party 
reached The Beeches flushed with pleasure and 
full of the delights of their first ride. 

Having schemes of her own, Vivian was quick 
to discover signs of them elsewhere, and later in 
the evening she called out to Sidney and Allan 
who were in earnest conversation on the piazza* 
“Plotting, plotting,” she said, “I must come 
and break it up.” But in the face of suspicion 
they disappeared later in the evening and were 
gone much longer than they had expected to be* 
Mr. Howe was not surprised when Allan walked 
into his study in rather a dishevelled condition* 

“Chickens?” asked the gentleman interroga- 
tively. 

“Not chickens this time, dogs.” 

“Were you bitten.? Where is Sidney?” 

“Quite safe in his room brushing up. I came 
to tell you that I have had the misfortune to kill 
a cur that attacked me. We were detained be- 
cause the owner threatened all sorts of terrible 
things ; but a neighbor kindly volunteered the 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


81 


information that the dog should have been killed 
long ago for he was a public nuisance. Then 
we were permitted to make our adieux.” 

“Ten days ago Sidney reported,” said Mr. 
Howe with a twinkle in his eye; “to-day it is 
you. Shall I make an appointment for you both 
together, ten days hence?” 

“It might be well,” said Allan, with a merry 
glance as he left the room. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


A SCHEME THAT WAS GRANDMOTHERED, 

“It would be a great lark,” said Sidney. 

“The fun of it would be the surprise,” added 
Gerald. 

“Yes; the girls are so sure we cannot do any- 
thing of the kind.” 

Just then they came upon Nelson, who had 
been cutting down a dead tree near the wood 
path. Allan was coming towards them from the 
opposite direction. 

“If I don’t miscaikerlate more’n usual,” said 
Nelson, “you young gentlemen have got a pretty 
piece of mischief afoot.” 

“What makes you think so. Nelson?” 

“Oh, there’s reasons.” 

“We want you to help us,” said Gerald. 

“Want’ll be your master then,” and Nelson 
sat down deliberately on the trunk of the fallen 
tree. 

“Yes,” said Sidney, “you’ll have to help us 
you know, and Allan, we need you for our other 
conspirator.” 

“Conspirator? No treason against the state I 
trust, nor disloyalty to my lady of The Beeches?” 

82 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


83 


“None whatever.” 

“I am already accused of midnight prowlings,” 
«aid Allan, “and I am quite ready. But tell me, 
is there glory in the scheme, or gold, or chance 
of prison damp and chains?” 

“Nothing but pure unadulterated fun,” 
answered Sidney. 

“And hard work,” added Gerald. 

“Ah, I see. The light of common day breaks 
through. Tou have a scheme, a fine project of 
your finer brains. But to carry it out you need 
a plain assistant. Well, look at me; for all my 
language is so fine, I still am but a simple yeo- 
man. Command me, sirs, am I to climb, or dig, 
or fell the forest tree? In truth ’tis chopping 
suits me best.” 

Allan picked up the axe, leaned upon it, and 
pulling his forelock, assumed an expression of 
the most abject submission to his elected super- 
iors. 

“Nonsense, Allan,” said Sidney laughing, 
“come here.” 

“He’s practisin’ for the stage I take it?” in- 
quired Nelson. 

“Well, we don’t want any stage effects just 
now, and the grand coup de theatre will take 
some time to prepare.” 

“Let’s have it then,” and Allan tossed back 
the hair from his forehead and threw himself on 
the ground to listen. The other boys seated 


84 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


themselves one on each side of Nelson on the 
fallen tree. 

“It’s Gerald’s idea, let him tell,” said Sidney. 

“It is about this idea of Mr. Howe’s,” replied 
Gerald. “The girls are learning to make bread 
and coffee, you know.” 

“I heerd somethin’ from Hannah,” said Nel- 
son, “but I thought it was only play.” 

“No, dead earnest,” said Sidney; “but I 
should think the girls would make a mess of it. 
Just think of Vivian and Ruth in the kitchen.” 

“Tina might get on if there was no one to 
tease her,” said Allan. 

“Yes, and perhaps Helen,” added Sidney; 
“but I should as soon think of the other girls 
in the stables grooming a horse as baking bread. 
Ruth does makes sponge cake, but that’s 
nothing.” 

“But what was it you wanted me to help you 
about?” asked Nelson. “I tell you right here I 
aint goin’ in fur no nonsense.” 

“It isn’t nonsense,” answered Sidney, “it’s 
serious about the girls’ cooking.” 

“I guess we’ll find it serious if we have to eat 
what they cook,” said Allan. 

“But we won’t have to if we don’t like. Tell 
A1 about it. Gerald.” 

“My uncle you know has no end of fads, and 
one of them is cooking. He is a friend of Mr. 
Howard Parkinson.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


85 


“Who is that?” asked Allan. 

“Why, don’t you know, in Boston? The man 
who is always writing something about Political 
Economy. He is at the head of a big business 
but he would rather be a Count Rumford than 
President of the United States.” 

“Wal, I should say so,” said Nelson, “most 
Americans would ; but see here, boys, I don’t 
think much of a real born Yankee who goes 
hankerin’ after foreign titles.” 

“Nor I,” said Allan. 

“Pshaw,” said Gerald, “that isn’t what I 
mean. Count Rumford was a man of many 
titles, which he won himself ; but he cared more 
about his cookery than anything else, and he 
invented a lot of things to cook with. Mr. 
Parkinson is like him in inventing things, and 
he says he wishes his epitaph to be : ‘He taught 
the American People how to stew.’” 

“Wal, I’m glad he aint the other sort. And 
he’s a friend of your uncle’s eh?” 

“Yes,” answered Gerald, “and we had some 
cooking machines made like his when we went 
into the north woods last year. Uncle did cook 
the jolliest things, and I helped until I could do 
nearly as well. We invented new dishes and 
had no end of sport.” 

“So you want to set up opposition to the 
girls, do ye? Now I’d advise ye to keep out o’ 
that kitchen and go fishin’.” 


86 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Out of the kitchen. Bless you, we have no 
idea of going into the kitchen. If I only 
had those cookers here it would be easy ; but he 
left them up in the woods.” 

“Can’t you send for them?” asked Sidney. 

“No, they were given away, and besides there 
are improvements by this time. I’m going up 
to Boston to see Mr. Parkinson, get some cook-^ 
ers and ask him all sorts of questions about 
what he is doing with them now, so as to 
have all the new ideas.” 

“You need lamps, too, do you not?” 

“Lamps,” said Allan, “what do you need 
lamps for?” 

“These machines are run entirely by lamps. 
No coal nor any fuss of any kind, and you see 
we can cook meals without anybody suspecting 
how or where, and so make a tremendous sur- 
prise.” 

“And Nelson,” said Sidney, “we want the 
smoke-house cleared out to put the cookers in.” 

“That little place?” exclaimed Allan. 

“Little place! guess you’ve never been in it. 
It’s the biggest smoke-house in all the country 
round. No end of things are stored in there 
now. And you’ll clear them all out won’t you^ 
Nelson?” Nelson laughed and chuckled and 
shook his head and took off his hat to wipe his 
forehead with his red handker*:hief. 

“So the smoke house is all you want is it? 
Wal, wal, the smoke-house!” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


87 


When Gerald came back from Boston, the eag- 
erness with which Sidney and Allan greeted 
him and the animated conjugation which they 
held together, aroused Vivian’s suspicions and 
she said : — “Girls, let’s make Gerald tell what he 
went to Boston for.” 

“Now boys out with it,” she said as they 
came up on the piazza, “what are you schem- 
ing about? Allan, you do not look quite so 
wicked as the others; suppose you tell us.” 

“Certainly, with pleasure. We three boys 
had a discussion some days ago as to whether 
Boston Common was as large as Central Park 
and Gerald went up to measure it so as to make 
sure.” 

“I hope there is nothing,” said Miss Howe, 
“that will interfere with a trip to the canon to- 
morrow.” 

“Oh, is it to-morrow?” and Sidney exchanged 
a quick look with Allan. 

“I am afraid. Miss Howe,” said Gerald, “that 
I must excuse myself from the party ; I am very 
sorry.” 

“There is only one Boston Common to meas- 
ure,” suggested Vivian mischievously. 

“And Aunt Margaret, Allan and I promised 
to help Nelson with some work to-morrow,” 
added Sidney. 

‘ Tt is quite too bad,” said Mr. Howe, “but 
we must not interfere with any disinterested ef- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


forts on your part; perhaps we can plan another 
trip to the canon later.” 

There was never a more beautiful morning 
than dawned on the morrow. 

‘T suppose,” Mr. Grafton looked mischievous 
as the mountain wagon came up to the door, 
that it will be my duty to stay with the young 
gentlemen who have elected to remain at home.” 

“No you don’t,” whispered Sidney in his 
ear. 

“It is unquestionably your duty, Mr. Graf- 
ton,” answered Mrs. Howe, who stood smiling 
on the piazza, “but I will relieve you of the re- 
sponsibility, I will take charge of them while 
you are away.” 

At last they were off and Sidney threw his 
arms around his grandmother’s neck, saying, — 
“You never mean to be an old lady do you, 
dear?” 

“Not, at least, until you children are grown 
up,” she answered; “but now tell me what you 
are going to do. How can I be responsible for 
you otherwise?” 

“We should love to tell you,” and he placed 
a chair and a footstool where she would be most 
comfortable, as they all grouped themselves near 
her. 

“You know Gerald went to Boston?” 

“Yes I know.” 

“He went up to see Mr. Parkinson and get 
his cooking machines.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


89 


‘‘Cooking machines ! What are you going to 
do with them?” 

“Cook and surprise the girls.” 

“Where can you put them so that the others 
will not know? I do not see how j^ou are go- 
ing to keep your secret.” 

“In the smoke-house, grandmama.” 

How his grandmother laughed ! You would 
have thought one of the young girls was listen- 
ing to the scheme. “But,” she said, “I do not 
see how you are to manage, and which of you is 
the cook?” 

“Gerald knows more about it than any of us; 
but we have all been studying up.” 

“I think,” said Allan, “that you can do al- 
most anything fairly well if you only set your- 
self about it.” 

“Then you know, grandmama, that Nelson 
is a famous cook and he thinks,! am s*ure,that it 
will be a great lark.” 

“He w^ouldn’t admit it for the w^orld,” said 
Gerald. 

“Oh, no. He says it’s a girl’s business to 
cook and a boy’s business to pick up chips.” 

“I begin to comprehend,” said Mrs. Howe, 
“why you boys were so interested in the bread 
making. Do you think you can do that?’" 

“Yes, indeed, aad ever so much better.” 

Mrs. Howe held up a warning finger: “Slowly, 
slowly,” she said, “good bread is not so easily 
made.” 


90 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Sidney does not mean better bread,” ex- 
plained Allan; “but made in a better way.” 

“Let me hear.” 

“When you set bread over night it is subject 
to variations of temperature and liable not to be 
light at the right time.” 

“That is true.” 

“Then the girls have to be up so early in the 
morning when they expect the bread to be nice, 
and I should think that would be a bore.” 

“That is a trouble sometimes; how do you 
propose to help it?” 

“Ml . Parkinson told us about a contrivance 
called a bread-raiser. A simple cupboard aifair 
with a glass door. At the top there is a shelf 
and on this you put the pan with the bread.” 

“The sponge, you mean.” 

“Yes, and below this is a shallow pan for wa- 
ter and under this a little lamp. The moist heat 
raises the bread in about three hours.” 

“And the baking?” 

“Oh, that is the beautiful part. Y^ou put the 
loaves in the oven for two hours and never have 
to look at them until they are done.” 

“What kind of pans do you put the loaves 
in?” 

Sidney looked at Allan, then at Gerard. A 
blank expression settled on all their faces. 

Mrs. Howe laughed again. “It is a good 
scheme,” she said, “but it lacks a grandmother. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


91 


You would better give me an inventory of the 
things you have and let me tell you what you 
lack.” 

“Ship ahoy, aho-oy!” called Nelson, who was 
looking for the boys. 

“Aye, aye!” they shouted in chorus. 

“We have to clear out the smoke-house first, 
you know, grandmama, and Nelson is calling 
us,” said Sidney. 

As they approached the little brick building 
Allan, who was in advance, put out his hand to 
lift the latch of the low, red door. 

“Don’t!” exclaimed Gerald, drawing him 
back with a quick movement. 

“Why, what is the matter?” 

“Don’t you see that big cob- web across the 
top of the door in that corner over the latch?” 

“I can brush it off. I’m not afraid of that spi- 
der if he is a big one.” 

“But they won’t know if that is there.” 

“I catch on,” said Sidney. “King David in 
the cave where the spider spun a web and hi& 
enemies thought he wasn’t there.” 

“Wal now,” said Nelson, “that is a good 
one.” 

“Can we work from the other side?” asked 
Sidney. 

“Of course we can; but it will take time and 
you’ll hev to go and ask Mrs. Howe’s permission 
to knock a door through on the other side.” 


92 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Extending back from the smoke-house was a 
frame addition which had been used as a work- 
shop but which was now filled with rubbish. A 
door opened into this from one side and as they 
went in they understood what Nelson meant by 
another door. 

Mrs. Howe entered heartily into the plan. 
“You are a good mason, Nelson,” she said. “I 
can trust you to make a doorway there without 
doing any harm.” 

“But we haven’t any door.” 

“Might put up a portiere.” 

“What’s that?” and Allan explained. 

“Gosh, that’s jest the thing!” Nelson did not 
often use such expressions; but he was electri- 
fied. “Come now, set to work if you mean busi- 
ness,” he said. 

“Indeed we do,” said Gerald, whose quick, 
comprehensive glance took in the whole situa- 
tion. Immediately he formulated a plan of ac- 
tion and began with the others to carry it out. 
He was a natural leader although there was no 
assumption of authority. 

“Shall we pile up these boards, Nelson? Could 
we have the cart to carry off this rubbish? Do 
you think it would be safe for us to start the 
door or would you rather do that alone?” were 
some of the questions which were asked and 
which started hands and feet in busy co-opera- 
tion. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


93 


‘‘I reckon I’d better tend to the wall; you 
youngsters can tackle the rest.” 

They worked wdth a will and after a time 
Mrs. Howe came again to see. “How are you 
getting on, Nelson?” she asked. 

“Wal, Mrs. Howe, all I’ve got to say is, 
thet if these boys work as well at their trades 
when they start out as they hev in this ere 
smoke-house, the folks that comes in contact 
with ’em’ll have to hustle, thet’s all. We’ve got 
through what Mr. Gerald calls the ’coniclastic 
part an’ now we’re goin’ in fur reconstruction.” 

“Whenw^e have done a little more, grand- 
mama, we are going up to the freight office for 
the cookers and bread-raiser.” 

“Ken ye manage it without me?” said Nelson. 
“I’ve got a little job on hand here yet.” 

“What are you going to do. Nelson?” 

“Wal, I did calkerlate I’d set about makin’ 
thet air portyare.” 

“What are you going to make it out of?” 

“Cobwebs, I reckon,” 

“Oh, pshaw! What are you going to make it 
of?” 

“Embroidery, I guess.” 

“I don’t believe you know yourself.” 

“You’re mightily mistaken then. You jest 
wait till you see it.” 

“But what is it?” 

“You’ll find out a good deal sooner if you 


94 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


jest go up arter them machines an’ leave me to 
finish up here.” 

“My kingdom for a Turkish bath!” said Al- 
lan, as they started for the house to brush up 
enough to go the village. 

“If you had it just after the meal you ate such 
a short while ago,” said Gerald, “it wouldn’t 
be long before you’d want a Turkish towel large 
enough for a winding sheet.” 

“I believe I did distinguish myself,” Allan 
admitted; “but I had to eat more than was good 
for me so that you would not feel out of coun- 
tenance.” 

“Thanks, tremendously. What is this, Mrs. 
Howe?” 

“A list of the cooking utensils which I think 
you will need. And the second part is a list of 
provisions which perhaps better be stored outside 
if you wish to preserve absolute secrecy.” 

“What a capital idea. I’ve heard of many a 
scheme that was fathered; but they can’t hold 
a candle to one that is grandmothered.” 


CHAPTER IX. 
nelson’s portyare. 

When the boys had driven away, Nelson 
turned his attention to the portiere. He de- 
cided that the ventilator at the top of the house 
would have to be opened to make the air thor- 
oughly fresh after the opening leading into 
the workshop was closed. Then he brought from 
the stables an old buffalo robe, and held it up 
to see if it were large enough to cover the open 
space, but it was too short. 

“Seems like that wouldn’t do,” he said, as he 
laid the robe down on the work bench and stood 
a moment to consider. 

“I’ve kinder set my mind on that, too. What’s 
this Mr. Howe’s alius a sayin’ : ‘Our apparent fail- 
ures are sometimes our greatest successes.’ Wal 
now, Nels, you jest see if you can’t figger thet 
out.” 

A sudden thought struck him. With a chuckle 
it was a pity the boys could not have heard, he 
began to carry out a new idea. Some trips to 
the stables were necessary for a large needle, 
waxed thread, pieces of discarded surcingle and 
95 


96 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


two iron spikes which were needed as the work 
progressed. 

The spikes were driven carefully into the wall, 
loops were sewed on two corners of the skin, 
W’hich was then suspended from the spikes. 
When he found that it hung to his satisfaction he 
took it down and spread it upon the bench. Gim- 
lets, augers, chisels, screw-drivers and other 
small tools were arranged and rearranged upon 
it until they assumed an appearance of symmetry. 
The strips of surcingle were stitched on in such 
shape that they would hold the tools of differ- 
ent sizes, and then the skin wms rehung and the 
tools fitted on it according to Nelson’s design. 
The work bench was now pushed against the 
smoke house wall so that the back of it, which 
was made of matched boards, held firmly the 
buffalo robe and hid completely the open space 
below. 

He had just finished when the boys drove up. 
‘‘Where’s the machines?” he called out; ‘T told 
ye thet freight agent wa’n’t any good.” 

“Here they are, all right.” 

“What! them little things.” 

“Is the portyare done?” asked Gerald. 

“Wal, I reckon. You jest come an’ see,” and 
he led the way proudly into the shop. 

“I say. Nelson, you’re a genius,” said Gerald. 

“Indeed he is,” added the other boys. 

“Wal, now, ye just take in all the pints about 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


97 


this, will ye? The bench is easy to move an’ 
who’d ever think of a door bein’ behind it?” 

“Capital. Great head.” 

“'VYhat do ye think o’ that portyare, any- 
how?” 

“I think it is the most original one I ever 
saw,” said Allan. 

“It’s more than that,” added Gerald, “it’s 
artistic.” 

“We’ve got some provisions, Nelson,” said 
Sidney, “but it seems to me it would be rather 
stuffy to put them in the smoke house ; don’t you 
think so !” 

“No need o’ that. There’s plenty o’ room out 
here.” 

“But we can’t have them, seen, you know.” 

“No need to hev ’em seen. You bring up some 
o’ them packin’ boxes thet you’ve emptied out 
in the carriage house. They ken be put along 
thet side out o’ the way, an’ nobody’d ever 
think o’ lookin’ under them; ’specially if I 
keep a few shavin’s an’ a little sawdust strewed 
around convenient.” 

The picnic party came home tired ; but such 
an enthusiastic cro\vd they wxre. 

“It is a shame boys that you did not go,” said 
Vivian. “You have no idea what you missed 
because you were too lazy to climb and wanted 
to stay home and loaf.” 

“They do not look much as if had had been 
loafing,” said Miriam. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘Indeed they do not,” said Ruth. “Why Sid- 
ney, you have quite a wound on this finger. Let 
me see your hands, Gerald, and yours, Allan. 
What have you been doing 

“Making scientific researches, your ladyship, 
in the hope of finding some prehistoric remains.” 

“Oh, how you boys do fib; but we’ll find you 
out, we’ve quite made up our minds to that.” 

Ralph took it for granted that Allan would 
tell him as soon as it was possible, what they 
had been about. “Of course they don’t want 
to tell the girls,” he said to himself; “but he’ll 
tell me.” 

When the picnickers went to their rooms Allan 
went into the library to read. In a few minutes 
Ralph came down and would have joined him 
but Ernest was there. 

“Yes,” Allan was saying, “I’ll ask Mr. Howe 
if you do not wish to; but you know he likes 
nothing better than to be asked such questions.” 

“Little beggar,” muttered Ralph, as he turned 
on his heel and went out of doors. “Little beg- 
gar, to come here and have everything, even a 
horse, and then he’s going to ask Uncle Earle for 
something else. He’s afraid to ask, himself, so 
he gets Allan to do it, and Al. is so good-natured 
he’d do anything for anybody. I’ll tell him he 
must stop it.” 

“Look out,” called Sidney, “don’t hurl your 
colossal frame against me that way. What’s 
the matter with you anyway?” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


99 


“Matter enough,’’ said Ralph, for once roused 
out of his indifference. “Allan is making a 
fool of himself and Ernest’s a sneak.” 

Sidney’s baseball muscles gave a tremendous 
twitch but they rebounded and he said : 

“You’re mad Ralph, mad as a hornet, and 
you’re outrageously insulting besides.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean what I say. Ernest is my friend and 
you’d better take back what you said mighty 
quick.” 

“Why see here, Sid, don’t you know what I 
mean?” 

“No, I don’t, and I guess you don’t either,” 
said Sidne}^ getting excited as Ralph cooled 
down . 

“Well, it’s just this. Of course you and I are 
Uncle Earle’s heirs; and although he’s a rich 
man, he isn’t so awful rich, and here’s Ernest 
getting into his good graces and he’s going to 
ask for something, I don’t know what.” 

“I’d feel mean to talk that way, Ralph. It 
sounds as if we were counting on dead men’s 
shoes.” 

“I don’t think so at all. It won’t be long be- 
fore I’ll be ready to go into business and of 
course I expect Uncle Earle to give me a start, 
and so do you.” 

“I don’t. I’d rather make my own way than 
to have anybody start me.” 


100 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“That’s all very fine; but we can’t start now’- 
a-days and work up as our grandfathers did if 
we expect to be rich men.” 

“I don’t expect to be a rich man.” 

“I do.” 

Sidney turned without answering and started 
for the house. Ralph followed and they reached 
the dining room just in time to sit down with 
the others. 

“Oh, I wish we knew which crew came in 
ahead!” and Ruth settled her gown of pale blue 
lawn with a pretty im patience. “It will be hours 
yet before we can hear, won’t it Uncle Earle?” 

“No, I arranged for a special telegram to be 
sent up,” he answered. 

“You did!” exclaimed Vivian, clapping her 
hands. “You did! Oh, isn’t he a dear?” 
This last to Tina who sat in mute admiration of 
Vivian’s crimson crepon, which suited so well her 
dark hair and brilliant eyes. 

“What a pity,” said Sidney, “that you and 
Ruth are so overwhelmingly true blue, so to speak, 
you won’t dare cheer if the other fellows come 
out ahead.” 

“Oh, yes we will; but if you are true blue 
for Yale, why didn’t you put on a wider necktie?” 

“On account of my native modesty,” answered 
Sidney, taking from his pocket a closely folded 
handkerchief of blue silk, which he opened and 
opened until a shout of laughter greeted its 
phenomenal size. 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


101 


“Made to order?” asked Mr. Grafton. 

“Yes, we have a neighbor who has a silk man- 
ufactory and he had some of these made for a 
few of the fellows last year.” 

“Tina is wise,” said Allan; “all in white. 
She can fling out any banner she chooses when 
the news comes.” 

“But Fred is at Cornell, he’s in the crew”— Tina 
spoke proudly though timidly — “and I couldn’t 
wear the blue or the crimson and I thought, I 
thought — ” 

“You thought,” Mr. Howe helped her out, 
“that it might not be wise to wear your colors 
among such strong partisans ; but Cornell has 
won, you know, and she may again. 1 hope 
she won’t; but if she does I’ll cheer with you. 
Haven’t you a badge that you can pin on? 
Couldn’t Minna get it for you?” 

“Oh, may I?” And Tina, jumping up almost 
flew out of the door and up stairs, her suppressed 
excitement giving itself full sway at this unex- 
pected permission. 

When she came back, wearing a broad sash 
of red and white, with a knot of the same colors 
at her throat, Allan rose to place her chair. 
Then, rising for an instant on tip toe, he shook 
out a square of silk equal in size to Sidney’s but 
made up of the Cornell colors sewed together. 

“Plagiarist,” exclaimed Sidney. 

“Not at all. Quite my own original idea, for 


102 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


I never saw yours until this evening. I am not 
exactly a man without a country, but a man 
without a college, and as Cornell was in the race, 
I was ready by way of variety to fly her colors 
if she won. If I’d only known about Tina now — ” 

“()ne never does know about Tina,” said Sid- 
ney, “she is given to surprises.” 

Helen, who was near the center of the table, 
reached forward and drew from the bowl of 
flowers a large zinnia of deep orange which she 
fastened on a black bow at her belt. “I’m not 
in the race,” she said, “but I may as well show 
my colors.” 

“Dear me, this won’t do at all !” and Vivian, 
snapping off a crimson bow from either sleeve, 
tossed them to Gerald and Ernest, bidding 
them fasten them at once in a buttonhole. 

Ralph, already out of sorts, did not know 
what to do. He had chosen Yale as his college 
because he wished to please Mr. Howe; but he 
began to think he would not go where Sidney 
did. Miriam looked at the other girls and then 
at her own gown. It was a charming grenadine, 
with sprays of delicate flowers ; but nothing 
positive — nothing that could be combined with 
a flower or a simple ribbon. She asked herself 
whether she wished to adopt any of the college 
colors and could not find an answer to her ques- 
tion. 

“Now is a good time to ask,” Allan said to 
Ernest. 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


103 


“Mr. Howe?” 

“Yes, Ernest.” 

“Is it necessary to go to college?” 

Sidney turned to Ralph who looked back de- 
fiantly; but all other eyes were fixed on Mr. 
Howe as he answered: 

“Can you tell me a little more plainly what 
you mean by necessary?” 

“I mean, to be a good business man, is it nec- 
essary to go to college?” 

“You mean a successful business man.” 

“Yes.” 

“To that I should answer that some of our 
most successful business men have not been to 
college. Successful, that is, from a money 
making point of view.” 

“But isn’t that success?” It was Ralph who 
asked. 

“Yes and no,” answered Mr. Howe. 

“It wasn’t the success that the old Greeks and 
Romans craved,” said Sidney. 

“It would be complete success,” continued 
Mr. Howe, “if the aim of amassing fortune was 
to gain all the best things of life. I was talking 
only the other day with a wealthy friend of mine 
— a man sixty years of age — who told me that 
he took more pleasure in earning one dollar than 
he did in spending a thousand.” 

“Was he a college man?” asked Sidney. 

“No, and I cannot help thinking, judging by 


104 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


my own experience of men, that had he started 
with a college training his ideas would have been 
broadened so that he might have thoroughly en- 
joyed something beyond his dollars.” 

“Then you do think that college is neces- 
sary?” 

“On general principles, yes.” 

“But,” said Miriam, who was always at her 
best when a discussion was going on, “isn’t a 
college life full of temptations for boys?” 

“Miriam’s brain is as full of questions as a 
hive is full of bees,” said Allan to Miss Howe. 
“Does she never settle anything?” 

“The world is full of temptations,” answered 
Mr. Howe; “men are tested sooner or later, in 
college and out of it.” 

“Mighty poor timber if they can’t stand the 
test,” said Ralph ; and then this serious conversa- 
tion was broken in upon by the arrival of a tele- 
gram which brought them all to their feet. 

“Harvard!” shouted Vivian and Gerald as 
Mr, Howe tore open the envelope. 

“Yale !” exclaimed Ruth, stepping up on a 
chair and throwing up a hand ready to cheer. 

Tina clasped her hands so tightly that they 
bore the marks of the nails afterward as she 
waited breathless for the words: — 

“Cornell an easy winner.” 

Ruth was down in a flash. Tina was lifted to 
the chair, she did not know how or by whom ; 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


105 


Allan waved his colors; everybody cheered, 
cheered as heartily as they would have done had 
it been Harvard or Yale which had beaten in- 
stead of the less popular but for this time suc- 
cessful Cornell. 


CHAPTER X. 


THE CHALLENGE. 

“Uncle Earle,” said Sidney a few mornings 
later, “please lend me your glasses a moment.” 

“What for, may I ask?” 

“I should like to look at Miriam through some- 
thing more than my plain eyes. She looks like — ” 

“Like a woman with a mission,” interrupted 
Allan. 

“Yes, that is what I mean,” assented Sidney. 

“I have a mission,” returned Miriam. 

“One minute,” said Allan; “let me pass the 
hat.” 

“Suppose the mission is a bad one,” said 
Ralph, and everybody looked at him ; it was so 
unusual for him to take part in their non- 
sense. 

“We can scarcely suppose it a bad one; but 
possibly it may be an unwise one. Perhaps 
Miriam will explain before we decide upon the 
size of our contributions.” 

“It isn’t a bad one and I know it is a wise 
one,” she answered. 

“Do tell us,” said Allan; “I cannot wait 
another minute.” 


106 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


107 


“You often keep us waiting about things,” 
said Helen. 

“Oh, yes, but that is diflPerent.” 

“I have noticed,” said Vivian, “that things 
are apt to be different for boys. When they 
want anything they must have it right away or 
the world must cease to go round. Boys are so 
conceited.” 

“And haven’t we as good a right to be con- 
ceited as girls? Think of you wdthyour cookery; 
but wait till I show you my bread.” 

“Yes, I think we will wait,” and Vivian 
laughed merrily. 

Allan turned again to Miriam. “My ambi- 
tion,” she began, “is to give a complete din- 
ner — ’ ’ 

“All yourself,” interrupted Tina. 

“Why of course, Tina; it’s easy enough if 
one only gives sufficient time and thought to it.” 

“No practice required?” asked Allan. 

“Not necessarily ; any girl with average in- 
telligence and a cook book can do it.” 

Mrs. Howe smiled indulgently, while Sidney 
inquired: — “What is a complete dinner?” 

“The girls settled that some time ago; what 
do you boys say?” 

“Beans, if you have enough of them,” an- 
swered Sidney. 

“Fish and bread, if you catch the fish your- 
self,” said Gerald. 


108 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“I wish that Miriam would give her idea,” 
said Allan. 

“What I say,” answered Miriam, “is that I 
am going to cook a dinner such as none of you 
boys could surpass if you tried.” 

“It will have to be a very elaborate affair 
then,” returned Allan. “I’ll take you up on 
that.” 

“Don’t be silly AL,” Ralph chimed in. 

“I’m not silly. How many courses shall you 
have, Miria;m?” 

“As many as Mr. Howe likes. He says, you 
know, that five or six courses, not counting cof- 
fee, suit him much better than a larger num- 
ber.” 

“The outside number, then — six. I under- 
stand this is a challenge ; you can do it and we 
boys can not.” 

“Yes,” said Sidney; “if she were a boy she 
would say, ‘I’ll bet diamonds to doughnuts that 
I can do it and you can’t.’ ” 

“Little necks first course, I suppose?” Allan 
put the question to Miriam. 

“Yes.” 

“I take it for granted boys can dig as good 
ones as girls.” 

“I’ll grant you that much.” 

“Possibly we can serve them a degree colder 
than you can ; but we won’t crow over your 
downfall yet.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


109 


“I should think not.” Then Miriam spoke 
to Mrs. Howe in a tone so low that the others 
did not hear. 

“Don’t pause, next course please.” 

“Clear soup with poached eggs.” 

Allen started up and took one or two anxious 
steps but Gerald nodded to him reassuringly. 

“All right,” he assented, “I‘ll undertake that 
course — next?” 

“Baked fish.” 

“Good, go on, that makes three.” 

“Broiled beefsteak.” 

Oh!” exclaimed Vivian, “I believe you would 
put beefsteak into a cold collection, as Miss 
Vane’s elegant collation was called the other 
day by one of the farmers.” 

This gave Allan a moment to recover himself. 
Broiling was one thing which the cooker could 
not do and he looked at Gerald to see what he 
thought; but Sidney was equal to the occasion. 

“I’m desperately fond of beefsteak,” he said, 
“but Miriam, is it quite a dinner dish? If we 
are to have a complete dinner ought not the 
dishes to be suitable?” 

The boy was so gravely in earnest, it is a 
wonder that the girls did not suspect; but Mrs. 
Howe was the only one who realized the situa- 
tion. She turned away in time to hide her 
smile, while Gerald whispered, “Saved!” in Sid- 
ney’s ear. 


110 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“I suspect you are right and yet 1 hate to 
give it up for I have learned to broil beafsteak 
beautifully, but I suppose it must be a roast of 
some kind.” 

“I suggest roast beef,” said Sidney. 

“Very well, roast beef let it be.” 

“How’ many have we now? Clams, soup, fish, 
roast; only two more allowed.” 

“Salad and dessert,” said Allan. 

“The salad of course won’t be cooked, and 
the dessert must be difficult ; the most difficult 
that can be found.” 

“Oh, then you begin to think w^e might suc- 
ceed, do you?” 

“Not at all; but I feel that my mission is to 
so completely overwhelm you that you will be 
modest for the future.” 

“And what is your hardest dessert?” 

“One that sounds very simple; but Mrs. Howe 
told me that it was one of the hardest to have 
perfect — the so called poor man’s rice pudding. 
I say it should be rich man’s, for it is a great 
deal of milk to a very little rice and the milk 
must be very rich indeed or else the pudding 
will not be suited to a fastidious taste.” 

“One of the dishes which came perfect from 
the old-fashioned brick ovens,” added Mrs. 
Howe. 

“When shall you give this dinner?” 

Miriam turned to Mrs. Howe: — “When may 
I give it?” she asked. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


111 


“Any day that you please.” 

“Then I choose to-morrow.” 

Miriam’s anxious look the next morning made 
Sidney say : 

“If you are to attempt such an Herculean 
task, do devitalize a little now at breakfast 
time.” 

Miriam smiled but did not answer. 

“There is no use,” said Allan, “she smiles; 
but it is a lofty superior smile, as if she would 
say, ‘Poor dears, how little they appreciate.’ ” 

“Don’t mind them, Miriam, eat your break- 
fast,” for she was letting her muffins grow 
cold. 

“I have really finished and I must go now if 
I may be excused. Will you come as soon as 
you can, girls?” 

After luncheon when they had again gathered 
in the kitchen, Hannah asked: “Will you tell 
me, please, what there will be for dinner, so that 
I can lay the table.” 

“We begin with clams,” said Miriam. 

“And,” interrupted Helen, “please serve them 
on those plates with the seaweed. You would 
like that, wouldn’t you, Miriam?” 

“Yes, but I shouldn’t have thought about 
the plate.” 

“That’s where cooperation comes in, and it 
makes such a difference how a thing is served.” 

“And what else?” asked Hannah. 


112 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“There will be soup, fish, roast with vegeta- 
bles, salad, creamed rice and coffee.” 

Hannah gave an astonished look around the 
kitchen ; but, remembering her express orders 
from Mrs. Howe, quickly withdrew in search of 
that lady instead of going at once to the dining 
room. 

“Y'ou ought to make the pudding, don’t you 
think so Miriam, so that it can be thoroughly 
cooled in time?” 

“Yes,” answered Miriam, “it can go right in 
wuth the bread.” 

“I cannot see,” said Helen, “how you are to 
do it all.” 

“Oh, it is easy enough,” answered the ama- 
teur cook; “but help me with this now, if you 
will. The rice pudding is so plain I am going 
to make Bavarian cream, and it must be simply 
elegant.” 

“With all my heart; Hove elegant things.” 

There was considerable delay about this dish 
for the cream would not whip satisfactorily at 
first ; but they were all too keenly interested to 
notice the rapid flight of time and at last it was 
pronounced a complete success. 

A few minutes after Hannah left the kitchen, 
Mrs. Howe appeared at the door; but the girls 
were so occupied that they did not notice her. 
She smiled as she saw the business air of the 
young cooks, took a hasty survey of the situa- 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


113 


tion, and then, returning to the hall, rang for 
Nelson. 

‘‘Can you find Sidney for me?” she asked. 

“I’m afraid not, Mrs. Howe, he’s so busy just 
now. Would Mr. Gerald do?” 

“Quite as well; here he comes now.” 

“Can I do anything for you, Mrs. Howe?” he 
enquired. 

“I knew you boys were busy with your Cook- 
ers this afternoon and I wish to ask if you have 
started anything in them.” 

‘‘Yes, we began this morning. We thought we 
would test them with something cheap, so we 
started beans and then we made Boston brown 
bread. The beans look fine ; but we cannot tell 
about the bread; it hasn’t come out yet.” 

“Will it be done by six o'clock?” 

“Yes, indeed.” 

“Did you make only a little to test the ovens, 
or is there enough to show your skill?” 

“Nelson says we have enough for a regiment; 
and the pan of beans is rather large ; but may I 
ask why you wish to know?” 

“I think we may need them at the house if 
you are disposed to be generous. The girls are 
working very hard ; but, from present indica- 
tions, I fear that they will be disappointed.” 

“I suppose I must not ask any more?” 

“No, I’ll not tell any tales out of school; only 
be ready if I call upon you.” 


114 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“We will, you may count upon us.” 

“Why don’t you tell me what to do with the 
vegetables, Miriam,” said Tina, “since there 
are so many things?” 

“Martha insisted upon helping me get them 
ready, although I begged her not to touch any- 
thing. Now I’ll put over these beans and then 
we’ll take the others.” 

•‘Don’t you think it was foolish to attempt 
bread too, for to-day? And what about the pud- 
ding?” 

“Good gracious! I’ve forgotten all about the 
pudding,” said Miriam, starting for the oven. 

“And it’s time to put in the beef” — Helen 
handed the dripping-pan to her. 

When the oven door was opened a strong smell 
of burning bread greeted their nostrils, and it took 
but a glance to see that the pudding, which 
should have cooked very slowly, had boiled over. 

“Oh, dear! Oh, what a pity!” exclaimed the 
other girls ; but Miriam did not utter a sound. 

“I am afraid the fire was too hot,” said Helen. 

“It will be just right for the beef,” added 
Tina, “and how fortunate it is that you have the 
Bavarian cream.” 

Miriam did not answer. It suddenly occurred 
to her that there might be something wrong with 
the fire and she lifted one of the covers to see. 
A little tap with the stove lifter and down went 
the coals, showing that underneath the fire was 
all burned out. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


115 


She gave a gasp and sank down in a chair. 
“It is perfectly hopeless,” she exclaimed, “the 
beef will never roast and I cannot do a single 
thing.” 

“And here is the coal,” said Tina, “if w^e had 
only known enough to put it on.” 

“Don’t say we,” wailed Miriam. “It’s no- 
body’s fault but just my own. I might have let 
Martha stay, but I wouldn’t. I had no right to 
attempt so much when I knew so little.” 

“Well, it really won’t matter,” said Helen ; 
“except for the pudding, the rest of the dinner 
is not spoiled, and you know we can have a chaf- 
ing dish supper. Oh, Mrs. Howe!” she exclaimed 
in relief as that lady appeared at the door, for 
she felt herself but a poor comforter. 

Miriam was covered wdth confusion and she 
turned away to hide her tears of mortification. 

“Never mind,my dear, ’’said Mrs. Howe, “I am 
quite sure I understand. Go right to your room to 
rest and get ready for dinner. Hannah will 
come down at once and we shall do nicely.” 

“But I don’t want to rest and I don’t w^ant 
any dinner.” 

For answer Mrs. Howe put her arm around 
the young girl and, drawing her out of the kit- 
chen, carried her off to her own room. 

Helen and Tina went to their rooms quite con- 
tent about their friend, for they had learned 
that Mrs. Howe had a way of putting things so 


116 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


that it was even possible to meet the quizzical 
teasing of the boys after a talk with her. 

But this was more serious than anything that 
had happened before. The time was too short for 
Miriam to rally and the rest sat down to the ta- 
ble without her. 

At first there seemed to be nothing to eat. 
Mrs. Howe sat calmly in her place ; Aunt Mar- 
garet expectantly in hers. 

“I dearly love surprises,” said Miss Howe, 
‘‘but,mother,you promised us something to eat.” 

“Yes,” said Mr. Howe, “and it is not the little 
bear’s portion that will satisfy me.” 

“I am waiting for the rest of the boys,” was 
the serene reply. 

“We shall have to eat the boys then,” said 
Ruth. “I don’t see anything else.” 

At this moment Sidney entered the dining- 
room carrying an immense dish of baked beans. 
Allan and Gerald followed, each holding a plat- 
ter on which rested loaves of steaming brown 
bread, all of which were deposited on the table 
while Hannah brought butter from the pantry 
and Minna began to fill the glasses. 

“Is this a huge joke,” asked Mr. Howe, “or 
are the}^ good to eat?” 

“They are the most eatable brown bread and 
beans you ever tasted.” 

“Where did they come from?” 

“They are some that Gerald brought back 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


117 


from Boston and has kept locked up ever since, 
to be brought out for such an emergency, ’’said 
Sidney. 

“No, where did they come from?” said Ruth. 
*‘The beans are good and, grandmama, this 
brown bread is like that you used to make for 
us long ago.” 

“I think this is even better,” said Mrs. Ho we, 
“but it is much like mine.” 

“I know,” said Vivian, “Martha has been 
gone all day ; you asked her to make them and 
have just brought them over hot.” 

“No, Martha had nothing whatever to do with 
them.” 

“I don’t care who did it,” said Sidney, “until 
I have had some more. I haven’t any time for 
curiosity; it’s just all filled with appreciation.” 

“They are good,” said Ralph. 

“First,” said Ernest, “I thought the beans 
were better than the bread and now I think the 
bread is better than the beans ; which is it?” 

“Both,” promptly responded Helen. “Allan 
where did you get them?” 

“I suppose you know that if you bore down 
far enough through the earth’s crust, you come 
to fire. If you do not go quite to the fire you 
have a nice oven and if you find a moist spot 
you have steam. All you need to do is to find 
the right places, put in your bread and beans 
and there you are.” 


118 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘Oh, dear, this is getting too harrowing,’^ 
said Ruth. “Will nobody tell us?” 

That evening Allan said : “Please take notice 
all of you that I am here.” 

“To be sure; we all see you.” 

“But I should like to be put under guard. To- 
morrow when somebody tries to prove that I was 
somewhere else I wish to prove that I was here.” 

“All right, old fellow,” said Ralph, “I’ll watch 
you.” 

“I think I’ll help,” said Mr. Grafton. “I be- 
lieve I see eastern jugglery in prospect.” 

“The more the better,” said Allan, and then 
the subject was dropped. 

The next morning some of the boys were up 
early, Allan among them ; but they went their 
several ways and nobody but Nelson knew 
that Allan had beaten up the sponge for four 
loaves of bread and set it to rise in the little cup- 
board with the glass door which they called the 
bread raiser. He asked Nelson to light the lamp 
under the oven at ten o’clock so he was perfectly 
free until eleven. 

And he seemed to be everywhere. He was of- 
fering to do something for everybody until Miss 
Howe declared that there seemed to be two or 
three Allans that morning. 

“Do take him with you. Miss Howe,” said 
Vivian, “he needs occupation.” 

“If he would like to come. Allan, I am going 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


119 


to the village at half past eleven, will you drive 
me?” 

“With the greatest pleasure. Shall I order 
your horse?” 

“If you will,” and Allan left the room at five 
minutes before eleven. 

He found that his thermometer marked a 
correct temperature for the oven. Hastily knead- 
ing the bread he divided it into loaves and Bet 
the pans in the bread raiser for the little time 
that they would need. Then he ordered the 
horse, went back into the cave, put the pans of 
bread in the oven, shut it tight, and left word 
with Nelson if he were not back at half past 
one o’clock to take out the loaves. 

“Why that’s two hours,’ said Nelson. 

“I know it; it takes two hours in that thing.” 

As he drove to the door Allan wore the careless 
air of one who has absolutely nothing to do. 

“How lazy you look,” said Helen who had not 
witnessed all his earlier activity; “I hope Miss 
Howe will make you do errands for her.” 

“I am sure I should be very glad,” said Allan, 
affecting to yawn. 

They were home again in good time. All 
were seated at table except Allan, who was 
missing. 

“I don’t think that I made Allan late,” said 
Miss Howe. “But here he comes now, and what 
can he be bringing?” 


120 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Mrs. Howe looked up quickly, as all the others 
did, and this time she was surprised with the 
rest. 

Allan no longer wore a lazy look. He walked 
proudly erect,carrying a tray on which something 
was piled, covered with a large napkin. 

“By your leave,” he said, with a bow to Mrs. 
Howe, as he put the tray down in front of 
Vivian, took off the napkin and displayed four 
evenly baked, crusty loves of delicious looking 
bread. 

Mrs. Howe looked greatly pleased. A pro- 
longed “Oh-h !” was heard from both sides of the 
table. 

“Miss Russell,” said Allan, “you say that you 
love hot bread, and as you have not baked any 
yet for yourself I have done it for you.” 

“But you didn’t do it,” said Vivian, lifting a 
loaf delicately and turning it around to see its 
perfection on all sides. 

“I did do it all my own self. Set it, kneaded 
it, baked it, without any help.” 

“When did you set it.^^” asked Ruth, incredu- 
lously ; “you were here all the evening.” 

“You did it after we were in bed,” said 
Helen. 

“No,” answered Ralph, “Hocked his door and 
opened it this morning, and he can’t climb down 
from his windows.” 

“I don’t set bread at night,” said Allan. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


• 121 


‘‘Oh, don’t you?” said Tina. “Do tell me how 
you do it? I believe in saving time.” 

“Yes,” said Ruth, “you have been mysterious 
long enough ; where is your kitchen?” 

“Why don’t you find out?” 

“We girls will if the boys don’t. I should 
think they would before this time.” 

“It is more fun not to know,” said Ernest; 
“when we get ready we shall unearth you.” 

Ralph, who had been rather indifferent, said : 
“I suppose you have an oil stove somewhere.!’ 

“I do not think you would by any stretch of 
the imagination call it a stove,” said Gerald. 

“There is only one whose acuteness I fear,” 
said Allan. “Tina has the inventive genius, and 
I suspect that she will begin to dig for an oven. 
The earth’s crust is large ; but it would be fair 
play for her to choose a spot next mine and 
spoil it.” 


CHAPTER XI. 


Allan’s conspiracy. 

After Ernest’s question to Mr. Howe at the 
dinner table, he felt less shy about talking of 
himself and Mr. Howe was most ready to listen. 

“I want to work for my mother now,” said 
Ernest to him one day, “and she says I must go 
to college.” 

“If your mother were an old lady, perhaps 
you would be right ; but as there will probably 
be many years in which you can contribute to 
her comfort I should say it is your duty to do as 
she wishes.” 

“But suppose I should fail, or do something 
that was not right?” 

“How could you fail to keep right with such 
a mother?” 

“But, Mr. Howe, she gives up too much for 
me now ; you don’t begin to know what she gives 
up for me.” 

“Very well,” answered Mr. Howe, “then let 
us look at it from the other side. A man need 
not necessarily become narrow because he has 
not had the benefit of college life. He certainly 
122 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


123 


could not do well in college if he felt all of the 
time that he ought to be somewhere else.” 

“That is how 1 should feel.” 

“And if you give up college, what is your 
idea?” 

“Anything that would take us into the coun- 
try. Mother loves the country and dislikes 
town. It seems to me since I have been here 
that I could keep bees or something.” 

Mr. Howe smiled at the indefiniteness of 
occupation ; but had no time to reply for the 
boys were calling : 

“Ernest, Ernest, where are you, aren’t you 
coming?” 

“We will talk about this again,” said Mr» 
Howe, “they are waiting now.” 

As Ernest passed out Mrs. Howe entered the 
room. “What shall we do for Ernest?” she 
asked ; “has he been talking to you?” 

“Yes, has he spoken to you?” 

“Not directly, but he talks with Sidney and 
Sidney with me. I wish it were possible to 
please the mother by sending the boy to college, 
and yet have him fully retain his self-respect.” 

“I wish so too; but I am afraid it is not. 
Ernest has the elements of a strong character if he 
is rightly guided and trained ; and yet I feel that 
he is not strong enough to do his best against 
weakening influences.” 

“He doesn’t seem to wish to go to college ex- 
cept to please his mother.” 


124 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“No, and he feels that he should not let her 
make the necessary sacrifices to send him. If he 
consents to the sacrifice, even to please her, will 
it not show weakness on his part?” 

“It is a nice question,” answered Mr. Howe. 
“The tendenc}^ of most young persons of to-day 
is to throw off all restraint of their elders and 
follow their own inclinations entirely.” 

“You know I do not quite agree with you 
there. I feel that older persons have lost touch 
with the younger ones and that they have largely 
brought about this state of things themselves.” 

“And then we always come to the same con- 
clusion, that each particular case has to be dealt 
with in its own particular way, and one cannot 
meddle too much in other persons’ aff'airs, you 
know.” 

“In this case I can see but one thing to be 
done,” said Mrs. Howe. 

“What is that.?” 

“To see the mother personally and persuade 
her to be satisfied with Ernest’s success in some 
out-door occupation.” 

“And who is to provide the occupation?” 

“Oh, that is for you to attend to,” she said, 
smiling, “you know you always got into mischief 
unless I kept you busy. As for me, my thoughts 
at present are full of Miriam.” 

“What about Miriam? Can I help you?” 

“I doubt if you can. A man of your temper- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


125 


ament would scarcely have patience with such 
a nature.” 

“Why, Miriam seems to me a very nice girl 
indeed; what is the matter with her?” 

“She is a nice girl, one of the nicest girls I 
have ever known; but she is not a happy girl.” 

“Why not?” 

“Ah, there’s the trouble! It all lies with her- 
self to change. She is introspective but to no 
purpose. She asks herself endless questions 
about herself. She mourns over trifles — she 
wears a hair shirt of penitence for sins which 
she does not commit and entirely overlooks the 
faults which, if eradicated, would make her a 
happy woman.” 

“Do you know what I would do if I were you ?” 

“What?” 

“I would sit down in front of her and paint 
a clear picture of these faults which you see so 
plainly— and it does not occur to me to question 
your judgment — so that she might see herself as 
she really is ; that is, if it would lead to her ulti- 
mate happiness.” 

“It is to save her from such a calamity, which 
some person may bring upon her, that I am puz- 
zling over the matter. She believes herself to 
be the most unselfish of mortals when, in reality, 
she is in her own way very selfish.” 

“Selfishness makes anyone unhappy.” 

“It is the unconsciousness of being selfish 


126 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


that causes the unhappiness. She feels that 
something is wrong and she does not know what. 
Then she feels that the world is somehow out of 
joint and that somebody is to blame because she 
does not accomplish the many things which she 
is always dreaming about. She does not see 
that it is all her own doing. She does not know 
what to give up nor how to concentrate her ener- 
gies. She is so sure of herself and her untried 
energies that it makes failure doubly bitter.” 

“I remember now,” said Mr. Howe, “that her 
letter to Ruth was rather pathetic and I did feel 
sorry at the way the poor child’s dinner turned 
out. But there is nothing like association with 
other young people to smooth out such kinks. 
Y^ou will see; she will be a different girl when 
this vacation is over; there are just the right 
elements here for her to mix with.” 

“What is it, Nelson?” as that ubiquitous in- 
dividual appeared at the door. “Oh yes, the 
mail. I didn’t know that it w’as so late. Mother, 
you are so entertaining that time and tide stand 
still in your company.” 

The arrival of the mail was the signal for the 
gathering of the whole party if they were any- 
where within call, and to-day no one had strayed 
away. 

“I have a letter from Mr. Parkinson,” an- 
nounced Mr. Howe, when all the company had 
taken time to scan hastily home letters and other 
news. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


127 


“Oh, is he coming? Is he coming?*’ exclaimed 
Ruth and Vivian at once. 

“I do hope that he is,” said Helen; “he is 
such a delightful man.” 

“Why mother,” said Mr. Howe looking up 
suddenly, “what makes you look so concerned, 
don’t you wish Mr. Parkinson to come?” 

“Did I look concerned? I didn’t know that I 
did. It is always a great pleasure to me to see 
Mr. Parkinson.” 

Thanks to the exclamations from the girls, 
no one except Mrs. Howe saw the look of abso- 
lute dismay on the faces of Sidney and Allan, 
which Gerald only failed to reproduce because 
he had more self control than the others. 

“You don’t suppose — ” whispered Sidney to 
Allan. 

“I don’t think he could,” was the fragmentary 
answer. 

“Mr. Parkinson’s letter,” said Mr. Howe, “is 
of interest to you all; and if you like, I will read 
it aloud.” 

“Oh, do, yes do, we are all ready,” from sev- 
eral voices, and Mr. Howe read : — 

“My Dear Howe:— 

‘H have been very much interested indeed in what 
you have written me about The Beeches; but I still 
contend that you are not true to your colors. As 
anti-monopolist, you have no right to create such a 
corner at your homestead unless you change your 
title. 

“But this is not what I began to write. You say 


128 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


that the bread and coffee experiment is getting on 
very well; but that there has not been any univer- 
sal enthusiasm over the dinner question. I agree 
with you perfectly that every young woman should 
know how cooking should be done and that it is 
impossible for her to acquire the necessary knowl- 
edge without some amount of experiment. I go 
further than this and say that she should know the 
elements of which our principal foods are composed, 
their construction and the combinations which are 
best suited to build up the brain muscle of a strong 
constitution. And farther still, I believe that every 
young man makes a valuable addition to his equip- 
ment for successfully meeting the problems of life 
when he has learned to broil a beafsteak and make 
a cup of good coffee. By the way, that was rather 
clever of the boys w^ho furnished the brown bread 
and beans for supper. I wish I could have been 
with you that day. But do you really think that 
Martha would have borne being cross-questioned 
on the subject? Her house is rather near by, is it 
not? Tell the young ladies, with my compliments, 
that I am getting together a collection of books and 
pamphlets on scientific cookery which I will send 
to The Beeches, but which, for various reasons, j 
cannot dispatch at once. Perhaps those who have 
not yet realized the importance of the subject may 
be interested in the scientific aspect of it. 

‘‘And now as to the real purpose of this letter. I 
wish — if you will allow me— to offer a prize for the 
best cooked and best served dinner of not more 
than six courses including coffee. I am personally 
much interested, as you know, in this subject, and 
besides, I consider it my duty to break up the mo- 
nopoly at The Beeches. 

‘‘Remember me most cordially to my young 
friends. My regards to the ladies and best wishes 
to you in this new departure. 

“Always Sincerely, 
“Howard Parkinson.” 

“Hasn’t Mr. Parkinson invented some cook- 
ing apparatus?” asked Miss Howe. 

“Yes,” answered her brother; “but you and 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


129 


mother are so conservative about such things I 
have never given you his pamphlets.’’ 

To Gerald Mr. Parkinson wrote — not using 
an official envelope and addressing with a type- 
writer. It read: 

“My Dear Geraed:— 

“I enclose one or two menus for the oven to give 
you an idea of what you can do with it. You can 
vary these very much, of course, according to the 
time of the year and the markets in different 
places. I do not know what is possible where you 
are at this season. As soon as I can I shall accept 
Mr. Howe’s invitation to visit The Beeches, and I 
hope to find that you have done wonders with the 
machines. Let me know if I can do anything for 
you. 

“Sincerely, 

“Howard Parkinson.” 

This letter Gerald read to Sidney and Allan 
by the big beach tree near the smoke house, and 
it was greeted with such shouts of laughter that 
Nelson came out from the stables to see what 
was going on. 

“Isn’t he a daisy?” said Allan. 

“I hope he will come,” said Sidney. 

“What’s this about?” asked Nelson, joining 
them . 

Then the letter was read again for Nelson’s 
benefit, for everything relating to the cave was 
of the greatest interest to him. 

“But I don’t see anything in that to laugh 
at,” said Nelson, grave as a judge, an’ the way 
you was agoin’ on here made me wonder if 


130 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


you’d found a ha-ha’s nest with a te-te’s egg in 
it.” 

“Why, you see,” said Sidney, “Mr. Parkin- 
son has written to Uncle Earle, and when he 
began to read the letter aloud, we boys thought 
that Mr. Parkinson was about to give us all 
away.^’ 

“I was just scared stiff,” said Allan. 

“But he didn’t do it?” said Nelson much ex- 
cited. 

“Not a bit of it; he just enters into our little 
joke. You see Mr. Howe wrote him about the 
brown bread and beans, and he asks in this 
letter if Martha’s house isn’t rather nearby. 
Oh, it’s just too rich for anything.” 

“So,” chuckled Nelson, “he’s goin’ to give 
the girls a prize, is he? Wal,I calkerlate there’ll 
be some curus cookin’ before they git through. 
What’s the prize goin’ to be? Some kind of a 
breastpin or trinket, I reckon.” 

“Very likely. Say boys, what do you say to 
my winning that prize?” asked Allan. 

“Are you particularly pining for a breastpin?” 
inquired Sidney. 

“No, but I should like to carry off the laurels 
and I believe I can if I put my mind to it ; Pve 
the greatest mind to try.” 

“What would you do with the prize?” 

Why, present it, of course, to the girl who had 
done best, since that is the apparent object of 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


131 


the giver. Wouldn’t it be fun with the girls, 
snubbing us so about the cooking?” 

‘‘But suppose,” said Nelson, “that the prize 
was some gimcrack that you’d like to keep, 
would you change your mind when ye got it?” 

“What do you take me for, Nelson? I hope 
I’m a gentleman.” 

“I jest wanted to know, ’’was the answer. 

“Here comes Tina in trouble,” said Sidney. 
“What is it Tina?” 

“Oh, Nelson,” she exclaimed, the tears stand- 
ing in her eyes, “that new stable boy took my 
horse when I came in and he kicked him ; kicked 
him real hard, right in his stomach !” 

What Nelson said we will not record, and Tina 
pretended not to hear. The boys sprang to their 
feet. 

“Bring him out, Nelson, ” they said, “bring 
him out and we’ll give him a dose.” 

“Not so fast, not so fast,” replied Nelson, 
“he’s alius be'en a good boy at home. Mebbe he 
don’t know no better.” 

“Not know better than to kick a horse?” re- 
torted Gerald savagely. 

“Wal now’, you stand by the side of the stable 
near the winder, and I’ll go in an’ ask him.” 
Tina went too. 

“Cris,” said Nelson in his usual tone, “did 
you kick Miss Tina’s horse?” 

“Yes,” answered Cris, “I give ’im a good 


one. 


132 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“What for?” 

“He wouldn’t stand.” 

“Where did you kick him?” 

A moment of silence followed in which Cris 
pointed to the exact spot. 

“You didn’t do right,” said the older man. 

“Wal now, Nelson,” said Cris in an injured 
tone, “if you was goin’ to kick a horse where 
would you kick him?” 

The answer was so ludicrous to the boys that 
they started away for fear their laughter would 
annoy Nelson ; but Tina was so indignant that 
Sidney turned to walk back with her to the 
house. 

“So stupid,” she said. 

“Not so stupid as ignorant, perhaps,” replied 
Sidney. 

“Yes,” said Allan, who had joined them, “no 
doubt it is a part of his family creed that a horse 
must be kicked; but Nelson will soon ‘eddicate’ 
him; it won’t happen again, Tina.” 

“I should hope not.” 

“After all,” said Sidney, “it isn’t much 
worse than a lot of men and women drive a 
horse; just notice how they yank ’em about.” 

“Yank ’em,” repeated Allan ; “where have I 
heard that classic expression? I do bethink me 
now” — putting his hand in his pocket — “Gerald 
comeback,” he called, “I have a bit of transla- 
tion here from the Chinese which I wish to read 
to you.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


133 


“Don’t Al, don’t,” begged Sidney. 

“Yes, let me. It will be soothing to Tina’s 
feelings to know there is something worse than 
the kick. And here comes Vivian; so much the 
better.” 

“Why Tina,” exclaimed Vivian, “did you go 
without me?” 

“I waited till I thought you would not 
come.” 

“And you went by 37'ourself?” 

“Yes, it isn’t far.” 

“Look out, boys,” said Sidney; “Tina looks 
as if she had begun to dig down for her 
oven.” 

“Yes, lookout,” said Tina. 

“Have you been searching for mine?” asked 
Allan. 

“That isn’t a fair question,” interrupted 
Vivian. 

“I think it is fair, and what is more I believe 
that I have almost found it.” 

“Oh, Tina, you don’t know how you have 
yanked my feelings, and you mustn't do it. Wait 
till I read you this,” and Allan, mounting a cart 
that stood at one side of the drive, declaimed 
Sidney’s verses which he had clipped from a 
newspaper : 

“Full flush of foliage on each tree, 

A honeyed breath to tempt the bee, 

A cloud-land glorious to see. 

Grand world ; but oh ! it’s thralldom. 


134 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


A wee maid wails her dolly torn, 

A game cut short the small boys mourn, 

By jerkings rough brute mouths are worn: 

A warning word were welcome. 

With brush in rest a bootblack stands. 

Strong picture for an artist’s hands ; 

He listens the absurd commands. 

Rash threats which end all freedom. 

Upon his brow sits wisdom sage. 

The varied woes he’s quick to guage. 

His words should fill the widest page,— 

‘Ye didn't ought ter yank ’em.’ 

Oh ! drop, my boy, your homely kit, 

Preach far and wide where masters sit; 

To flesh and nerve the lesson fit, 

‘Ye didn’t ought ter yank ’em.’ ” 

“Good!” cried Vivian, clapping her hands. 

“Why, Sid,” said Gerald, “I didn’t know you 
were rushing into print without asking the 
advice of your friends. Allan must look to his 
laurels.” 

“Thank you,” said Tina; “that quite ex- 
presses my feelings.” 

“And it was your woe that brought it out; so 
you see if you haven’t found an oven you have 
discovered a poet.” 

“Did you really find anything, Tina?” asked 
Vivian in a low tone, as they walked on. 

“Not really ; but come with me and I’ll tell 
you about it.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


Vivian’s counterplot. 

“Now tell me, Tina,” said Vivian eagerly 
when they had reached her room, “what did you 
find?” 

“I heard the boys the other day,” answered 
Tina, “talking about their cave; and you know 
they said there was a cave on the way to Castle 
Silent, so I went to see if I could find it. I tied 
Douglass to a tree and walked in till I found 
it.” 

“Was it far?” 

“No, quite near the road.” 

“But you couldn’t go in by yourself.” 

“That is why I wanted you to go and look 
with me.” 

“And do you think the cave is really it?” 

“I don’t know ; it might be large enough for 
their oven. There’s a stone in front and it 
looks as if the branches had been broken down 
all around it.” 

“Well, I’ll go with you to-morrow; now we 
must go down stairs.” 

“You see,” said Mr. Howe that evening, 
“Mr. Parkinson has stolen my thunder. I in- 
135 


136 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


tended to offer that prize for the dinner myself ; 
but I can get even with him yet.” 

“How, Uncle Earle?” asked Ruth. 

“By offering another prize.” 

“Now that will be riches,” said Allan; “what 
shall I do if I win them both?” 

“Perhaps you may win this one,’^ answered 
Mr. Howe. “I am sure I hope you will try.” 

“I hope that it is within my reach,” said 
Vivian. 

“Scarcely. Of course you boys,” turning to 
Allan, “are joking about the dinner; but here is 
something that you can do.” 

“Oh, please let us try too,” pleaded Tina. 

Mr. Howe smiled indulgently upon the girls as 
he said: 

“I offer a prize to the one who at the end of 
the season shall show me the best groomed horse 
and the best kept saddle and riding accoutre- 
ments.” 

“What a jolly idea,” said Sidney; “let’s have 
a horse show.” 

“To this must be added the best management 
of a horse.” 

“You mean skill in riding?” 

“In a way, yes; but a rider may show skill 
and be very showy without managing a horse in 
the best manner. By management, I mean, in 
addition to skill, having such sympathy with 
your horse that you know instinctively what to 
do.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


137 


“I shall begin to study horse language im- 
mediately,” said Vivian. 

The next morning, greately excited, she called 
the other girls into the morning room on their 
way to breakfast. 

“What is it, Vivian? What new wrinkle have 
you in your brain now?” asked Helen. 

“Did you hear what Mr. Howe said?” 

“About what?” 

“About the prizes.” 

“Yes, we all heard.” 

“Well, do you know, I am going to win that 
prize.” 

“You can’t; it’s for the boys.” 

“I know he thinks so; but he didn’t say 
boys.” 

“But that doesn’t make any difference.” 

“Yes it does. He said the one who did 
best, and I am determined to be that one.” 

“Will you come to breakfast, young ladies?” 
said Hannah at the door. 

“Only five minutes allowed for difference in 
watches,” said Allan teasingly. 

“We’re not late,” replied Vivian. “We stopped 
only a minute in the morning room.” 

“It is ten minutes after eight,” said Mr. 
Howe; “but I imagine the boys will forgive you 
if you tell them what new scheme you have on 
foot.” 

“I do not wish to lose one minute from horse 


138 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


culture,” said Allan, ‘‘otherwise it would not 
matter to me; I have so much to learn.” 

When they were in the stables, Mr. Howe 
carefully inspected each outfit. “I must he sure 
that everything is right in the beginning,” he 
said, “and not hold you responsible for what is 
not your fault.” 

“Why don’t the farmers have better looking 
horses, Mr. Howe?” asked Ernest. 

“They haven’t time to keep them looking like 
these, have they?” said Ruth. 

“No, except now and then one.” 

Ralph listened with a slight sneer on his face. 
“I suppose you’ll keep your horses groomed 
slick when you are a farmer, won’t you?” he said. 

“Maybe I shall be a farmer some day,” 
answered Ernest, and then turned to speak to 
Mr. Howe; but that gentleman had moved on 
and, apparently, had not heard Ralph’s remark. 

“I wish that Ralph wouldn’t snub Ernest so 
often,” said Miss Howe, as she walked back with 
her brother to the house. 

“Ralph is jealous,” said his uncle, “and that 
makes him unreasonable. His mother, you 
know, takes for granted that I will do every- 
thing for him, and she has, unfortunately, let 
Ralph think so too. It is not good for any boy 
to be encouraged to take these things for 
granted. And then I suppose the horse has 
something to do with it.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


139 


“What about the horse?” 

“Ralph had his choice before Ernest and 
thought he had taken the best one. Ernest, 
who chose at random, took the horse which 
Ralph wants now and he almost asked me to 
change; but I pretended not to understand.” 

“Why that is mean ; as mean as can be.” 

“I cannot quite make Ralph out yet. I would 
like to believe that these unpleasant traits are 
the result of a false home education; but I do 
not know how much is inherent. I wish that 
some real test would come right now, this sum- 
mer. As his guardian I might then know better 
how to deal with him. I believe that [he is all 
right at bottom, and it will be a grievous dis- 
appointment to me if I find that he is not.” 


CHAPTER XIIL 


RALPH. 

Mr. Grafton had been very proud of Ralph in 
school and took the greatest pleasure in helping 
him with his studies. Ralph was not condi- 
tioned in anything; it was only that he wished 
to be absolutely sure of himself that he did 
some work each day. The other boys were so 
much brighter and quicker that they did not 
feel the need of grinding ; but Grafton, who was 
a good deal of a grind himself, approved of 
Ralph’s methods. 

Some days when Allan felt like applying 
himself in earnest he would say to Sidney, — 
‘‘Come along, I’m going to readwuth Ralph.” 

And Sidney would answer : — “All right; but 
excuse me, I always get riled when I try to work 
with him.” 

Yet a stranger at The Beeches, unless more 
than usually observant, would not have no- 
ticed anything amiss between the cousins. There 
was so much general occupation — discussion of 
daily news and events of interest, comparison of 
views about the new books which kept arriving 
at The Beeches, riding and fishing excursions, 
140 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


141 


where each one felt himself a part of the whole 
crowd, that outwardly it was an entirely har- 
monious gathering. 

Then Mrs. Howe had a wonderful gift of in- 
teresting all, whether younger or older, who 
came under her influence. The social qual- 
ities which had made her such a charming enter- 
tainer in her earlier life were now brought into 
play for this smaller circle. The gracious dig- 
nity of her presence created an atmosphere in 
which the graces and refinements of life grew 
naturally without the aid of braces and leading 
strings. 

Ralph, who was too proud to speak after the 
first few days af Allan’s desertion, as he consid- 
ered it, devoted himself largely to Mr. Grafton 
and accepted his grandmother’s overtures 
toward a better acquaintance. After a time 
he lost the awkwardness with which he at first 
placed a chair or opened a door for her and there 
'were times 'when he would inquire if he could be 
of service. 

At home his mother always found him the 
best seat for reading, often giving up her favor- 
ite chair, and she always opened or closed doors 
or windows with a careful forethought for the 
comfort of the student. This was her idea of 
unselfishness and had its beautiful side ; but at 
The Beeches Ralph found that he was not 
the sole and only individual to be considered. 


142 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Never having realized what his mother did 
for him, he brooded in silence over what he did 
not understand, each day adding more to the 
bitterness of his spirit. 

“I won’t go to-day,” he said one morning as 
he came out of the grove where he had been 
aimlessly walking, “I’m tired of it all.” 

“They say they are to have the best drive of 
the season to-day,” said Ernest, who was in the 
drive and heard the petulant remark. 

“I don’t care, I’m not going,” said Ralph, too 
vexed to think that Ernest had overheard him 
to be willing to ask any further questions. 

“I am sorry I cannot go,” continued Ernest; 
“but Mr. Howe arranged for me to visit a fruit 
farm to-day and I can’t do both. Mr. Howe 
didn’t know the farmer was coming before to- 
morrow and he says I may give it up ; but I 
don’t think I ought to.” 

“Oh, I guess you would rather go to the 
farm,” retorted Ralph. 

“Are you coming to see them start?” asked 
Ernest timidly; “I am, and then we go.” 

“No,” was the curt reply, as Ralph turned 
back into the grove from which he could see the 
mountain wagon and the out riders as they 
went merrily along. 

When they were well out of sight, he went 
back to the stables where six of the saddle 
horses had been left for the day. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


143 


“Ernest won’t be home,” he said to himself, 
“and I’ll take his horse out. I wish I had 
known more when I chose mine.” 

A slight prick of conscience was followed by 
the words: “It isn’t his anyway and I’ve a 
right to take it if I like. Who’s that with Nel- 
son, I wonder.” 

“Pretty peart lot, ain’t they?” the stranger 
was saying as Ralph came up. 

“Of course,” said Nelson, “Mr. Howe 
wouldn’t have anything else.” 

The. newcomer was a young man of about 
twenty, short, spare and slightly stooping from 
the shoulders, as one who had bent forward con- 
tinually in some occupation. He had a close 
knit frame and keen black eyes that had a habit 
of closing partially as if focused on some point 
of interest. 

“This ’ere is a handsome one,” said Nelson, 
pointing out Bay Beauty. 

“Handsome, yes; but what’s she good fur?” 

“Good for? Why good to ride of course.” 

“Pshaw! Now there’s a beast I’d bet on if 
he was entered. D’ye think the old man’d let 
him go?” 

“Go where?” asked Ralph, sauntering up 
with the air of a proprietor. 

“To the races over to Topham. ’Tain’t reg’- 
lar, you know, but there’s some rich sports over 
to the hotel thought they’d hev some fun. 


144 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Kinder tired o’ bangin’ ’round the girls and 
foolin’ with tennis. 

“ ’Tain’t reg’lar, as I say, and the horses 
won’t be trained nor nothin’. There ain’t no 
reg’lar track, neither; but down here three 
miles or so there’s an old driving park.” 

“Ye don’t mean where them fools hed the 
stock farm and failed, do ye?” said Nelson. 

“Thet’s it. Bully place for a track; but it 
took a pile o’ fixin’. When them fellers’ goven- 
ors gits back from Europe guess they’ll think 
they might better hev took ’em along. Left ’em 
up here to save money; serves ’em right, I say. 
They fixed the track and then they sent fur me 
to come up and ride. I told ’em I couldn’t 
afford to come; but they said, money be hanged, 
I could set my own price. But we’ve got to hev 
an outside horse or two more than we’ve got yet 
and I’m lookin’ fur somebody thet’d be pleased 
to go in. They say the old man ain’t much on 
races.” 

“Mr. Hovre doesn’t approve of races,” said 
Nelson with dignity, and then, his natural in- 
stincts coming to assert themselves, he 
asked : — 

“There mighty anxious, I s’pose, to git a good 
horse.” 

“Well, not so terrible anxious,” said the 
jockey warily, as, resting on one foot, he tapped 
his boot with the end of his riding whip, but if 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


145 


you ken manage it,” this with a wink on Nelson’s 
side and away from Ralph, “I ken make it 
worth while fur ye.” 

At the suggestion of a bribe Nelson’s indigna- 
tion rose. “Worth while!” he exclaimed ; “d’ye 
think you’ve come to some low kind of a stable 
where a man ’ll fool his master for a few 
filthy dollars. You jest git out o’ here mighty 
quick or I’ll kick ye out.” 

With a conscious laugh the jockey turned to- 
ward the door. Totally misunderstanding Nelson 
and only thinking that he did not wish to be- 
tray himself before Ralph, he paused an instant 
as if considering, and then with another wink, 
disappeared. 

Nelson, shaking his fist, went into the harness 
room and slammed the door. Ernest sat by the 
window with a book, waiting. 

“Oh!” said Nelson, “you here?” 

“Yes, it’s getting late; I am afraid we’ll miss 
the train if he doesn’t come soon.” 

“Wal now that’s too bad,” said Nelson, “and 
all the rest gone off fur the day excepting 
Ralph.” 

“What is too bad. Nelson?” 

“Why that fool jockey that wus here jest now 
said they had broke down somewheres, and there 
wasn’t any train this morning. That farmer 
won’t come fur you, I reckon.” 

For a minute Ernest looked crestfallen ; then 


146 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


he brightened up and said: “Never mind, I’ll 
go to the house and read awhile and this after- 
noon I’ll ride.” 

Ralph, who did not see or hear Ernest, stood 
looking at the horses. Nelson came out, har- 
nessed up a market-wagon and drove away. 
After this Ralph deliberately saddled Ernest’s 
horse and rode off. 

He had gone but a short distance when he 
saw the jockey sitting in an expectant attitude 
by the side of the road. His cap was pushed 
back and his bridle rein was held loosely over 
his wrist. 

“Mebbe I treed the wrong coon,” he said to 
himself, “I’ll try the young one now;” but he 
did not have to speak first. 

“I say,” began Ralph, “you know a lot about 
horses, don’t you?” 

. “Born with ’em, raised with ’em, lived with 
’em all my life.” 

“And you picked out this horse to be the best 
one in the stable, didn’t you?” 

“Well, I didn’t examine ’em all with regards 
to all of their points,” said the jockey wdth an 
air of profound wisdom; “but I do say, for the 
track, this one’s the pick.” 

Ralph was much impressed. “I can learn a 
good deal from this chap,” he said to himself; 
“but I must talk to him a little about his own 
affairs.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


147 


“When will your race come off?” he asked. 

“To-morrow, if it’s fair, and I reckon it will 
be.” He remounted as he spoke and added 
carelessly: “If you’re Jest out for pleasure you 
might ride along. ’Tain’t more’n three mihs 
and you could see the track.” 

“I’d like to compare this horse with some of 
the others,” said Ralph, who began to feel very 
wise as to horses in general and trotters in 
particular. 

“All right, come ahead,” said the Jockey, who 
felt that he had reached a point where he could 
indulge in a little more familiarity, “and look 
here, if you don’t mind backing this one, I could 
show you a thing or two about yours.” 

Ralph dismounted and the change was made. 
After this the Jockey was so taken up with the 
horse that conversation lagged until they reached 
the driving park. 

“Hello!” shouted one of two young men 
who came out to meet them. “What have you 
got there, Dan, and what chump is that on my 
horse?” 

“This is my friend, Mr. — Mr. — ” 

“Wayne,” added Ralph. 

“My friend, Mr. Wayne ; he has come down to 
show you his horse.” 

“Beg your pardon, Mr. Wayne. Here’s to 
our better acquaintance,” and he drew out a 
pocket flask, filling its little glass with a hand 
that shook slightly as he did so. 


148 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Thank you,” said Ralph, “it’s a little too 
early in the day for me.” 

“No offense, no offense,” answered the other, 
tossing it off himself. ‘ ‘Here, Topham — friend 
— Mr. Swayne.” 

Why Ralph had answered as he did, he could 
not have told. The truth was that he had not 
the courage to tell that he was under bonds to 
his Uncle Earle not to drink until he was twenty- 
one, and he had once heard his uncle make the 
remark which he had gotten off so glibly; but 
that was to a man who was drinking too much 
at ten o’clock in the evening. 

The young man called Topham came up 
gravely and shook hands with Ralph. If he had 
been drinking, he betrayed no sign of it, but 
entered at once into conversation. 

“Did Dan tell you what we are going to do?” 

“He told me something about it.” 

“You see we had to have some horses from 
outside or the betting wouldn’t have amounted to 
much. There’s more or less prejudice against 
Rob’s horse.” 

At mention of the betting Ralph saw that he 
was in the w^rong place ; but there was a fasci- 
nation in feeling more like a citizen of the world, 
and he had a right to do as he pleased any- 
way. 

Topham was apparently not older than Ralph; 
but his friend, who was somewhat older, was 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


149 


entirely under the influence of the clear headed 
junior and obeyed him like a child. 

“Let’s go on the track,” he said. “I’ll take 
your horse, Rob.” 

“Take him myself,” answered that young 
man. 

“No, I’ll ride him and Dan can try the new 
one.” 

The time slipped away rapidly, for after a 
trial or two, another horse was brought out and 
there was a great deal of talking, Ralph thought 
to no purpose, between the times of going around 
the track. 

“Now then,” said Mr. Topham at last, “we’ll 
go over to the hotel and have some lunch.” 

“It’s getting late, I think,” said Ralph. 

“Oh, no, it is early and we are less than a 
mile from our hotel. Perhaps you wouldn’t 
mind walking. Dan can rub your horse down 
while we are gone. I suppose you can bring 
him over early in the morning.” 

“I suppose so,” answered Ralph, who felt that 
he must accomplish it somehow, now that he had 
gone so far. 

At The Beeches luncheon had long been over 
when Ernest, who had been talking with Mrs. 
Howe, went out to saddle his horse for a ride. 
Nelson had not returned. None of the stable 
boys were to be seen. For a minute Ernest 
gazed at the empty stall and then went to see 


150 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


if his saddle was in its place. Yes, it was there ; 
but Ralph’s, which should have hung next to it, 
was gone. 

“Oh! I wish he hadn’t,” said Ernest. “He 
doesn’t love a horse as I do.” 

It never occurred to him to take Ralph’s horse; 
he simply wandered out into the woods, feeling 
as nearly miserable as he could on such a beau- 
tiful day — after having just finished Stevenson’s 
“Kidnapped.” 

“Hark, there they come! But oh, dear! Ron- 
ald is lame. And he is coming so fast. Why 
doesn’t he let him walk?” 

Ralph, who felt that he was much later than 
he should have been, hurried up to the stables^ 
jumped off, hung up his saddle, polished his bit 
and started for the house before Ernest reached 
Ronald’s stall. 

“Poor fellow, poor fellow, where have you 
been?” said Ernest, patting the heated neck, 
“And what is the matter with your leg? Maybe 
it’s a stone; Nelson says to always be on the 
look out for a stone.” 

And sure enough it was a stone. A sharp 
piece of flint which must have hurt cruelly as 
Ralph clattered homeward. Ernest shut his 
teeth firmly and thought some hard things. 

“Wait a minute, just a minute,” he said and 
rushed to the tool chest. Coming back almost 
instantly with a horseman’s knife he opened the 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


151 


pick and skilfully extracted the stone. Then, 
bathing the frog carefully, he wrapped it up with 
some of Nelson’s lotion which he said beat 
Pond’s all hollow, and as he gave a final pat, 
while Ronald rubbed a grateful nose against 
his cheek. Nelson came into the stables. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


DIGGING FOR BAIT. 

“Well, Nelson,” said Mr. Howe, “what is 
the stable report this evening?” 

Nelson carefully closed the study door, stood 
near it a moment listening and then seated him- 
self opposite Mr. Howe. 

“There’s some mighty queer doings down 
there to-day,” he said, “and I’m beat to find 
out about ’em.” 

“What kind of doings?” asked Mr. Howe 
quietly, for he was always coolest when there 
was trouble in the air. 

“Wal, after you drove off there come along a 
jockey from over Topham way. He said some 
chaps over there was getting up a race ; they’d 
put the track in order.” 

“What track 

“Down to the old drivin’ park.” 

“Yes, go on.” 

“An’ they was looking around for a few more 
horses besides their own to enter. This jockey 
was a professional an’ I reckon they’d got things 
all fixed for the betting, to sweep in the stakes 
themselves. He looked over the horses and 


152 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


153 


picked out Mr. Ernest’s. Then he wanted to 
know if I thought you’d let the horse be entered. 
Mr. Ralph he come in and asked a question or 
two, and then the jockey was impertinent to me, 
an’ I told him to go or I’d send ’im. And if 
you’ll believe it — ” continued Nelson with a 
mysterious air, “that horse come in some time 
this afternoon as near banged up as you ever 
see a horse.” 

“Who brought him?” 

“Thet’s the curus part. T wasn’t here, ye 
know, an’ when I come in, there was Mr. 
Ernest a pettin’ an’ a fondlin’ his horse and the 
beast a nosin’ his face as much as to say ‘Thank 
ye,’ and the boy lookin’ as if he’d like to cry if 
I wasn’t there.” 

“What did he say?” 

“Why the fust thing he said was : Oh, Nelson! 
come here and tell me if I’ve done it right.’ ” 

“Done what right?” 

“The hoss had come in with a sharp stone in 
his off hind foot thet had lamed him an’ the boy 
had pulled out the flint an’ done it up as slick 
as I could myself. Then it flashed over me thet 
he might hev fed the hoss, an’ says I, ‘I hope 
you haven’t fed nor watered.’ He’d a foundered 
him sure if he had, for the hoss hed been put 
through his paces, I ken tell ye; but how on airth 
thet jockey got hold of him beats me.” 

“Are the other horses all right?” 


154 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“All right, every one of ’em.” 

“By the way, Nelson, where were the stable 
boys this afternoon?” 

“Wal, I tell ye, Mr. Howe, I thought thet too 
to begin with ; but every one of ’em proved an 
alibi. Ye see I had Peter with me. Jim hed 
gone to his mother’s, an’ I see him there when 
we come back, an’ Brom he went home too, an’ 
he wasn’t due till supper time. He’s come in 
all right.” 

“Very well. Nelson, tell me as nearly as pos- 
sible what time the jockey was here, what time 
you left the stable, and what time you came 
back.” 

Mr. Howe turned to his desk, made a note of 
what Nelson had said, and then went to join the 
group on the piazza. 

There was not much merriment that evening. 
The story of Roland’s escapade had been graph- 
ically detailed by Sidney who had it from Nel- 
son. The young people were naturally much 
excited, and Ernest was deluged with questions : 
— “When did he come in? Where had he been?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“But you saw him while he was panting and 
hot.” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, what do you think?” 

“I don’t know how it happened. I don’t 
know where he had been. Please don’t ask me 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


155 


any more questions?” Ernest got up and turned 
to the door where Mr. Howe stood looking very 
gravely at him. 

Ralph was reading at a table near one of the 
window’s which looked out upon the piazza and 
where he could hear all that w’as said. Ernest 
went in and took a chair on the opposite side of 
the table, where he pretended to read until the 
the party separated for the night. 

“If Ernest know’S, I don’t see why he doesn’t 
tell,” said Vivian to Sidney. 

“I don’t know, I am sure,” answered Sidney; 
“but that little chap’s true blue every time.” 

“Of course he is,” said Vivian. 

Allan said nothing. When Gerald asked his 
opinion, tie simply shook his head and refused 
to talk about it. There was nothing to do but 
wait for future developments. 

The next morning Mr. Howe was missing from 
the breakfast table, and had left word that he 
would not be home until evening. No plan had 
been made for the day. 

“We are like a ship without a rudder,” said 
Ruth. 

“Then let us drift;” but Vivian’s alert look 
belied the suggestion. 

“Yes,” said Allan, “let each one do as he 
pleases to-day.” 

“I’d like that too,” added Tina. 

During the day it w’as evident that several 


156 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


private schemes were on foot. Not long after 
breakfast Tina and Vivian strolled away toward 
the stables and when they were in front of the 
smoke-house Tina came to a full stop. ‘‘You 
don’t suppose, do you, that their old stove is in 
there, ” she said. 

“Why, no, it couldn’t be; that is asmoke- 
house.” 

“I heard somebody say when we first came 
that it wasn’t used anymore — maybe the boys 
have put a stove in it — I’m going to try the 
door. Isn’t it pretty with the green vine over 
the red brick?” Tina put out her hand to try 
the latch when, “Oh! 0-o-oh!” she cried, for 
the big black and yellow spider had come to the 
edge of his web and looked at her. 

Vivian laughed until she cried. “I can’t help 
it, Tina,” she said, “I can’t help it; you are so 
funny and the spider looks so wise.” 

“I wish I could make you afraid of a spider 
just for once so that you might know how it 
feels,” exclaimed Tina. 

“Nevermind, dear,” replied Vivian soothingly, 
^‘we’ve found out one thing; it isn't in there 
for they couldn’t go in and out without breaking 
down that web. Come along, I think it is the 
cave in the woods ; let’s go and see.” 

“S-sh,” said Allan inside of the smoke-house, 
let’s make sure they have gone, Sid, and then 
we’ll follow.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


157 


.“You don’t mind the walk, Vivian?” asked 
Tina. 

“Walk? No, I love it.” 

When they had reached the spot Vivian said : 
“It’s a pretty big stone, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, but we can move it if we try.” 

“Are you sure it is a cave?” 

“It looks like it. See, here is the bed of a little 
stream that has dried up ; and this looks as if 
the water might have poured through here and 
worn a cave; you know it does that way.” 

“And you heard the boys talking about this 
cave?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, then let’s try it. ‘One, two, both to- 
gether’, as the men say.” 

“No, this won’t move it. I wish I understood 
the principles of mechanics. What we want is 
leverage; if we put a strong stick under this 
hollow perhaps we can pry it out.” 

“Where’s a stick?” 

“Here’s a good one — just the very thing. Now 
then. There — there it goes.” 

The flat stone tumbled away and disclosed to 
view, not an aperture large enough for an en- 
trance, but an irregular face of impenetrable 
rock. 

“Walk right in and take luncheon with us,” 
said Sidney, with a grave face, as he and Allan 
emerged from behind the trees, Allan shaking 
with suppressed laughter. 


158 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Well, I don’t care,” said Vivian, “there 
should be a cave here.” 

“We will hollow one out for you immediately,” 
said Allan; but the girls said they would not be 
made fun of and started homeward. 

“I’ll tell you,” said Tina, “it must be near 
there and perhaps they set up that stone as a 
blind. Let’s go again this afternoon.” 

“If we can, yes.” 

“I am glad,” said Vivian as they started on 
their second quest, ‘ ‘that we have such an ex- 
citing occupation for to-day. There’s the horse 
trouble and then I don’t know what’s come over 
Miriam. She’s as pokey as she can be since that 
dinner of hers. Now I wouldn’t care if I had 
failed sixty times.” 

“I would. My turn to try comes next week, 
and yours too, doesn’t it?” 

“Yes, but don’t expect much from me. Ruth’s 
dinner was splendid, wasn’t it? And I imagine 
that Helen will do something quite as elegant.” 

“I hope the boys will keep up their luncheon 
dishes,” said Tina, “wasn’t that pan dowdy, as 
Allan called it, good?” 

“Just delicious ; hark !” 

They were in the thickest part of the wood 
and not far from Castle Silent. 

“I hear voices,” said Vivian; “it’s the boys.” 

“In that direction?” asked Tina, pointing. 

“No, more over there. I wish these sticks 
wouldn’t crack so.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


159 


As lightly as possible they tripped along, 
Guard gravely following until they came to the 
edge of the ravine east of Castle Silent. 

“We’ll have to climb down here,” said Tina, 
“and up on the other side.” 

“That’s easy. Don’t slip, but hold fast to the 
young trees.” 

When they had gained the further side they 
could see Castle Silent, dumb and deserted as 
ever, the timbers of the unfinished part growing 
more weather beaten as the season advanced. 
At one side *of the half built-structure was 
a great pile of sand and broken stones, so shel- 
tered that it had lain for years practically un- 
changed. In this pile of debris Sidney and Allan 
were digging. 

“It is underneath after all,” said Vivian, 
“Now we’ll make them show it to us.” Taking 
Tina’s atm she walked up to the boys and, with 
a very good imitation of Sidney’s tone of the 
morning, said: 

“Thank you, young gentlemen, we shall be 
pleased to walk in and take luncheon.” 

‘ ‘ ’Pon my honor, you deserve to be rewarded, ’ ’ 
said Allan; “walk right in and help yourself to 
some sand tarts and a granite pie.” 

“But there’s nothing here after all. What are 
you two boys digging for, I’d like to know?” 

“Digging for bait ; we are to go fishing to- 
morrow.” 


160 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘Trout fishing with sand flies?” said Tina. 

All day a cloud had hung over The Beeches, 
but Mr. Howe dispelled it when he came home 
in the evening. 

“If anyone has more pocket money than he 
knows what to do with,’’ he said, “I can give 
him a legitimate object for expenditure.” 

“Of course we have lots of money,” answered 
Vivian, “for even bonbons grow on The Beeches. 
We don’t have a chance to spend a cent.” 

“I’ve had rather an interesting experience 
since I went away,” continued Mr. Jlowe ; “but I 
have had to sit in a stuffy room a part of the 
time. Come outside and I’ll tell you.” 

When they were settled on the piazza Ralph 
and Ernest happened to sit where their faces 
were in the shadow, and Mr. Howe threw himself 
in a great arm chair with his back to them. 

“They have been having a busy time over at 
Topham,” he began; “two young men who have 
disgraced themselves by becoming gamblers and 
drunkards, got hold of the race track at the old 
driving park and meant to have a race there to- 
day. Mr. Graves, who owns the property, was 
at the seashore, but he was telegraphed for and 
wired back in time to put a stop to it. They 
had gotten together some very disreputable fel- 
lows and Graves would have felt it a personal 
disgrace if the thing had come off. He reached 
Topham late this afternoon and I left him full 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


161 


of a fresh air scheme which some friend of his 
had proposed.” 

bet it was Uncle Earle who proposed it,” 
said Sidney to Helen, who was near him. 

‘‘His scheme is to fit up the barn and the old 
training stables for dormitories — use the house 
for dining room and kitchens and bring up a lot 
of children from the city. They are to have 
the track for a play ground.” 

“Isn’t it rather late to do that?” asked Miss 
Howe. 

“No, August is no tquite over and all the indi- 
cations are for a hot September. The fresh air 
people have done good work ; but there are plenty 
of children yet who have not had an outing.” 


CHAPTER XV. 


THE TOWER ROOM. 

A few days later Sidney came in greatly ex- 
cited. “I just met Mr. Graves, Uncle Earle,” 
he said, ‘‘and what do you think he wants us to 
do?” 

“I have no idea; what?” 

“He is getting up a horse show at the old 
driving park and he asked me if we would come 
over with our horses.” 

“Oh, glorious!” exclaimed Vivian, “I was at 
the horse show last year in New York and it 
was the greatest fun.” 

“But could they go here?” asked Mrs. Howe 
doubtfully. 

“On account of the tone? Anything that Mr. 
Graves manages will be well done, and 
if he let’s his own daughters take part you may 
be sure that all objectionable elements will be 
kept out.” 

“He told me that his daughters and their 
friends were helping to get it up,” said Sidney. 
“The proceeds are to be used for enlarging the 
house and making it a permanent fresh air 
building. He said they were puzzling over the 
162 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


163 


problem of how to put the tickets high enough 
for the few wealthy people who had not yet 
gone back to their city homes and yet have them 
low enough for the farmers who might like to 
oome and whom he hoped would take an interest 
in the prizes.” 

“Why not have some boxes at a premium!” 
suggested Gerald. 

“Yes, to be sure,” said Sidney. 

“Couldn’t we go over and offer to help fix 
them up?” asked Allan. “Could we have the 
flags, Mr. Howe, and all that bunting we used on 
the Fourth of July?” 

“And evergreens,” added Ruth. “Oh, it 
would be lovely !” 

“I believe we could make as good a showing 
as anybody,” said Helen. 

“Better,” said Tina, “think of our horses.” 

“Yes, ” added Miriam, “and think of all the 
lessons we have had and the practice.” 

“I wish we might do something special here 
for the fund,” said Ruth. 

“Why not give a musical?” Miss Howe looked 
up brightly. 

“Yes, if you would do all the playing.” 

“Not at all. I will do my part; but you play 
well, so does Vivian, and Allan has such a good 
voice. Then I am sure that Gerald would give 
us some violin solos.” 

“Can you endure the amateur violin at a con- 
cert?” asked Gerald. 


164 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“I certainly can endure your playing,” she 
said, ‘‘and then there will be the two weeks to 
practice.” 

“But my dear Miss Howe,” protested Vivian, 
“the house will be turned into pandemonium if 
I practice. When I do begin I simply bang 
away for hours every day.” 

“You shall practice in my study in the tower,” 
answered Miss Howe, “that room was arranged 
so that I could practice all I pleased.” 

“In the tower? In your room in the tower?” 

“Yes.” 

“Oh, Miss Howe ! I know that it proves that 
I have a great deal of vulgar curiosity ; but I 
have been just dying to go into that room. I’ve 
wanted to go into it almost as much as I’ve 
wished to see the ghost at Castle Silent.” 

Instantly Miss Howe’s bright look changed, 
and picking up a letter which should have been 
put in the mail bag, she left the room. 

“If I were you, Vivian, I wouldn’t mention 
the ghost to Aunt Margaret, she doesn’t seem 
to like it,” said Sidney. 

“I know; I forgot. Allan told me. I won’t do 
it again.” 

The tower room was in the third story and 
had only a peaked air chamber above it. It was 
octagonal in shape and from its windows were 
to be seen most beautiful views of the surround- 
ing country. But one who entered this room for 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


165 


the first time would not be likely to look at once 
from the windows. There were many interest- 
ing things to arrest and detain the eye, from the 
pictures on the walls to the trifles scattered 
about above book-shelves and on tables. At first 
sight it had the air of a study belonging to a 
member of the opposite sex, yet it was not lack- 
ing in the feminine touches which every novelist 
finds in my lady’s boudoir. When Vivian was 
permitted to enter she expressed the greatest 
delight. 

“Oh! Miss Howe,” she exclaimed, “this is 
what I like. You haven’t a sign of a ruJflie on 
any of the divan pillows, and you have a bronze 
inkstand instead of a blue and white china one.” 

Miss Howe’s face flushed as she put an arm 
around Vivian’s waist and, drawing her near, 
kissed her cheek. 

“You are like me in a great many ways,” she 
said; “and perhaps that is the reason why I am 
so fond of you.” 

“Are you fond of me. Miss Howe? I didn’t 
dare to think so ; do you know I’ve been just a 
little bit afraid of you until now.” 

“No, don’t be afraid of me,” said Miss Howe. 
“You are so like me that I fear you may do some 
of the very things in your life which I regret in 
mine ; but you are a wilful lassie and 1 am afraid 
only your own experience will teach you.” 

“I suppose I am self-willed,” answered Viv- 


166 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


ian, looking up at Miss Howe, who was smiling 
in spite of her grave words ; ‘ ‘but if my doings 
would lead me to the possession of such a room 
as this, I shouldn’t mind anything else. But I 
should want a few oil paintings ; why do you 
have so many etchings and engravings?” 

“One reason is because I like so much color 
in other things. I like to have my Moorish hang- 
ings and those red Indian bowds and my Vene- 
tian glass and the rest of it.” 

“Yet here is a painting,” said Vivian. 

“Yes, I could not spare my Mount ^tna,with 
those beautiful hillsides, and you see I have 
given the alcove panel entirely to it. The frame 
is so old that the gold harmonizes with the 
books below instead of putting them out of 
countenance, I think.” 

“Such delightfully low book shelves. Oh ! the 
whole thing is ideal ; now if you will only play 
for me, I will almost promise to be good all the 
days of my life.” 

“I will play for a little while and then we 
would better call Gerald and Allan to make out 
a programme for the musical.” 

Gerald preferred a severely classical pro- 
gramme ; but Allan had a different idea. 

“We tried that last summer on the mountains,” 
he said, “and some of the audience whom we 
wished to please didn’t enjoy it one bit. I 
heard one farmer say to his wife : ‘Say Ma, I 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


167 


s’pose that’s mighty fine, but can you hear 
any tune to it?’ ” 

“If Vivian would sing some of the old ballads, 
that would give pleasure.” 

“I sing, Miss Howe! Why, you know I can’t 
sing any more than a mouse, except in choruses, 
then I can.” 

“Suppose we try now; take Bonnie Dundee.” 

“That’s a howling success,” was Allan’s com- 
ment when she had finished. 

“It must be the room,” answered Vivian, “I 
never sang so well before. Now it is Allan’s 
turn.” 

“The programme is still too classic for me,” 
said Allan. “Would it shock you too much if I 
proposed some negro melodies?” 

“The very thing,” said Vivian. 

“You would need a banjo,” suggested Gerald. 

“Very well; I could get one in time.” 

“Couldn’t you give us something original in 
the way of a song?” asked Vivian. 

“Don’t ask more than the ordinay mortal is 
equal to,” was the answer. 

“We will give you carte blanche , said Miss 
Howe, “to fill in dull places.” 

The tower room was now the centre of inter- 
est for the musical ones, and preparations for 
the musical, as well as for the horse show, pro- 
gressed each day. Vivian, who was attempting 
some difficult Beethoven, spent much time at the 


168 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


piano and liked to practice late in the afternoon 
when Miss Howe was apt to be occupied else- 
where. If an excursion or company interfered 
with this she would ask to be allowed to go up 
for an hour after dinner. When she had closed 
the piano, and put out the lamp, depending upon 
a candle to make her way down to the next floor, 
she liked to stand at the window, through which 
she could see Castle Silent and dream fantastic 
things about it and the ghost. One evening, stand- 
ing in this way, she fancied that she saw lights in 
the windows. ‘‘Not lights, but a ghostly glare,” 
as she described it to Gerald later. 

“I wish I had been with you,” said Gerald, “I 
could easily have shown you that it was the 
moonlight shining on the outside.” 

“But,” answered Vivian, “the moon had not 
risen.” 


CHAPTER XVI. 
nelson’s return. 

“Life isn’t half so spicy since Nelson has been 
away,” said Sidney one morning when they 
were in the stables grooming the horses. 

“Why did he go now?” asked Ruth. 

“I rather urged it than otherwise,” said Mr. 
Howe, “for Nelson is so like a clock I feared he 
might not get straightened out again if he 
changed his plans. For many years he has gone 
just at this season to see his sister. He makes 
a visit of ten days and comes home on Thursday 
afternoon; if he should stay until Friday I 
should think something terrible had happened.” 

“Then he is due to-day,” said Sidney. 

“Yes, and I should be glad if you boys would 
have everything in particularly good shape. If 
you can win Nelson’s praise you will know that 
you have done work to deserve it.” 

Ralph heard all this with a downcast face, as 
he finished in a perfunctory manner the groom- 
ing of his own horse. He was very strong — 
work was nothing to him — yet the process seemed 
long this morning. The horse stood quietly 
until his master had finished and then gave his 
169 


170 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


head a little shake as much as to say : “Well, I’m 
glad that’s over.” Ernest’s horse, on the con- 
trary, never failed to show his appreciation of 
his young master’s attentions and always looked 
after him as he left the stall. Then the boy 
would go back, smooth the glossy mane, pat the 
pretty head, and, if no one was looking, kiss 
the white star in Ronald’s forehead. 

Nobody knew, unless Mr. Howe suspected, 
what a comfort this dumb companion was to the 
boy. He could not speak to a person about the 
trouble that was spoiling his good time and he 
could not go home without distressing his 
mother ; there was nothing to do but bear it un- 
til the end. 

“If only Ralph wouldn’t hate me so,” he 
said to himself, “I wouldn’t mind so much. I 
should think he would be glad I didn’t tell; but 
he isn’t. I’m glad that Ronald’s foot is all right 
though ; but I wonder, oh ! I do wonder if Mr. 
Howe thinks I did it. And Mrs. Howe and all 
— they’re just as nice to me as they can be; but 
maybe they do think so. They’re so fond of 
Ralph I couldn’t tell if I wanted to, because 
they’ve been so good to me.” 

Ralph would not question himself too closely. 
When he found his thoughts getting too much 
for him he would do some hard reading or insist 
that Allan should listen to some grand money- 
making sch3me for the future, or he would some- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


171 


times even join in the preparations for the horse 
show. 

Allan did his best ; but there were silent 
pauses instead of the old quick repartee, and 
one day when they had been talking, Ralph 
stayed at home in a moody frame of mind in- 
stead of going to the driving park with the 
others as he had intended. 

“It isn’t really Ernest’s horse, ”he said for the 
hundredth time to himself, as he walked to the 
house, where he found his grandmother sitting 
on the piazza. 

“Why, Ralph,” she said surprised, “you 
didn’t go with the others.” 

“No,” was the curt answer. 

“They will get ahead of you, will they not?” 

“I don’t much care if they do.” 

“I know you care more about your books ; but 
I think, my dear”— nobody called Ralph “my dear” 
except Mrs. Howe — “that you may be neglecting 
to take the proper amount of exercise.” 

“Oh!.l don’t think that will make any differ- 
ence.” 

“That is because you are so strong ; but we 
often see the strongest constitutions break down 
too early in life, where they have been over- 
taxed.” 

“I think I do get a good deal of fresh air and 
exercise; you know I walk a good deal.” 

“I know you do, and yet I feel that you miss 


172 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


some of the pleasures which the others have,” 
said Mrs. Howe. Then she continued: “But I 
wish they all had your perseverance.” 

It was the first time for many days that any- 
thing like praise had fallen on Ralph’s ears from 
anyone except Mr. Grafton, and he was so used to 
his tutor’s commendation, that it did not espec- 
ially count. The tone too, was sympathetic and 
for an instant Ralph’s better self was in the as- 
cendant, as he thought: 

‘ Tf I could only tell her about it — I wish I 
knew what she would say.” 

At that moment a carriage drove up with vis- 
itors for Mrs. Howe, and Ralph retreated with a 
sense of relief at not having spoken. He turned 
again into the woodland path — walked a short 
distance — and then, throwing himself down under 
the trees, gave free range to the unreasonable 
thoughts which chased through his brain. 

“It’s been so ever since the beginning. Sid- 
ney had no business to ask Uncle Earle if Ern- 
est might come up here; that’s what has made 
all the trouble. And then Gerald makes him- 
self a leader when he is only a guest. If he 
wasn’t here Allan wouldn’t be so taken up as he 
is all of the time. And Aunt Margaret makes 
such a fuss over Gerald, you’d think he was a 
great deal better than the rest of us. I wish I 
hadn’t come. I wish — I wish — nobody cares 
whether I’m here or in the Red Sea. I can’t go 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


173 


to the park much — I’m sick of it all since I took 
Ernest’s horse over — I wouldn’t have anything 
to do with their ridiculous cookery, even if they 
asked me; but I do wish I could find out what 
it is that Sid and Allan are after when they go 
out nights. Gerald isn’t in that, for I’ve watched 
them. It’s some fun or other — something they 
expect to find — and Allan ought to have asked 
me instead of Sidney. It’s a blamed shame, I 
say; but I don’t care any more for them than 
they do for me.” 

So he tried to comfort himself but failed. Be- 
fore this all had gone well enough in his life ; 
but since he had come this year to The Beeches 
new feelings and desires had sprung up in his 
heart. Up to this time he had not felt the need 
of any companions beyond the few whom he had 
chosen for himself; now he wished to be in- 
cluded in all that was going on and he felt 
hurt because no one had urged him to go to the 
park. He realized that his attempts to join in 
the general gayety had been awkward and he 
was conscious that his feeling about Ronald was 
the cause ; but he felt that if he had a chance to 
explain to Allan he could make him see it all 
right. The girls, who had been very nice at 
first, he felt only tolerated him, and altogether 
life was becoming very hard, when — soft as the 
flutter of tiny wings — came the thought of his 
grandmother’s words : “My dear, I wish they all 


174 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


had your perseverance.” Then he roused him- 
self. It was not so much what she had said as 
the way she had said it which touched him, and 
he determined that she at least should be proud 
of him. 

“I don’t care what they think,” he said, 
“and I’ll go in now to finish those problems 
before dinner time.” 

No one was left at the stables; the dogs were 
on guard. Mr. Grafton, who had important let- 
ters to answer, had remained at home to be on 
hand in case of any emergency, but the others 
with the stable boys to help were all at the 
park. As Ralph drew nearer he thought he heard 
a groan. He stopped to listen — not being able 
to distinguish at first from which direction it 
came — then he heard it again distinctly, and 
this time Nelson’s voice. 

“Oh ! I wish I had a drink of water.” Ralph 
knew now that Nelson was in his room over the 
carriage house ; there was cool water at hand 
and a drinking cup on a nail near the stair. He 
filled the cup and mounting the stairs pushed 
open the door. 

“What’s the matter. Nelson? Here is water,” 
he said. 

“Go away, go away — you mus’n’t come in,” 
said Nelson, at the same time stretching out an 
eager hand for the water. “Go away,” he re- 
peated, “you mus’n’t stay here.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


HE 


“But I’m not going away till you tell me what 
to do for you.” 

“Why, I’ve been to my sister’s” — Nelson 
spoke slowly with many pauses — “they’ve got 
typhus fever there — I come back fur some things 
an’ to say I had to go an’ take care of my sister 
— I got here this afternoon jest as I promised I 
would — my head felt queer an’ I lay down a 
minute. I reckon I must have gone to sleep fur 
I meant to get one o’ the boys to go fur the doc- 
tor for I’ve got the fever sure; but I d’ know as 
I could make 'em hear an’ they’d be scared to 
death anyway.” 

“I don’t believe it’s typhus fever,” said 
Ralph, who wished to say something comfort- 
ing and did not know what else to say. “Shall 
I go for the doctor now?” 

“No, I feel better. You ken wait till mornin’. 
Then in the mornin’, if you’ll jest set suthin’ to 
eat at the top of the stairs I reckon I ken git 
it. Now you go, an’ I’m much obleeged to ye. ” 

“I’m not going, Nelson, I’m going to stay 
here and take care of you.” 

Nelson stared ; he was not too ill to feel 
amazed at the proposition. “Why, they’ll all 
miss ye from their doin’s; ye can’t stay.” 

“No,” answered Ralph, “they won’t miss me 
much. I can be spared better than anyone else, 
and you must have a nurse you know,” he said, 
ending the sentence cheerfully which had been 
begun in rather a bitter tone. 


176 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘See here, boy,” said Nelson, “I reckon I’ve 
ruther misjedged you and then he turned over 
and fell into a heavy sleep. 

Ralph had meant to insist upon going for the 
doctor but now he did not know quite what to 
do. Perhaps Nelson might waken and need him 
and — although he knew but little of illness , he 
had always heard that sleep was the best thing, 
so he decided to wait. Nelson was always very 
positive as to what he wanted and he might be 
offended if the doctor came without his per- 
mission. 

Except for Nelson’s heavy breathing it was 
very still in the room — a large airy place over 
the carriage house, fitted up in a severe but 
unique fashion to suit the occupant. There 
were no unusual sounds outside, only the twitter 
of the birds and the occasional sound of wheels 
as some one drove past. 

“I wish I had a book,” thought Ralph. “I’ll 
go and get one.” 

He started up but paused, remembering what 
Nelson had said. “Typhus fever? What was it 
like? People didn’t make much of a fuss over 
typhus fever — no, that was typhoid. Nelson 
spoke of this as if it were as bad as small-pox, 
and he said I mus’n’t come near him. Why 
then, I suppose I must not go to tie house. How 
long does this sort of thing last ; three weeks, 
isn’t it?” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


177 


Ralph looked about the room calculating the 
possible chances of discomfort during the time 
of his voluntary imprisonment. Then he looked 
at Nelson and for the first time in his life there 
awoke in his mind the desire to be of real act- 
ual service to a human being, outside of him- 
self. 

‘T’ll just stay here and take care of him,” he 
said; ‘T believe I can do it.” And then — with 
more peace of mind than he had known for 
many a day — he sat down by the window to 
wait for the return of the party so that he might 
feel free to go for the doctor if necessary. 

A boy rode up to the house with a message; 
but Ralph did not pay much attention to him, 
nor did he know that word had been sent that 
the whole party had accepted Mr. Graves’ invi- 
tation to take supper with him that evening. He 
heard Peter and Crist in the stables, yet thought 
best to wait for his uncle’s return before going 
out. 

Nelson wakened and asked for water. Ralph 
re-filled the cup and returned with it. 

“Ye ain’t agoin’ to stay here, are ye?” asked 
Nelson. 

“Of course I’m going to stay, ’’Ralph scarcely 
recognized his own voice , it was so cheerful. 

Nelson gave a sigh of satisfaction and turning 
over was soon in a sound sleep again. Ralph be- 
gan to feel drowsy and at the same time hungry. 


178 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“There won’t be much show for dinner for me 
to-night,” he said, and then he remembered 
that when he had gone down for water he had 
seen a tin cracker box in the picnic wagon, left 
there after the last excursion. He slipped down 
stairs and was conscious of a faint hollow feeling 
as the idea flashed over him that the box might 
be empty. But no — crackers, a box of sardines 
and a package of sweet chocolate. No danger 
of his starving on that. 

“It’s queer they don’t come,” he said when 
he had finished. “I’ll lie down here and take a 
nap until they do;” and hunting up a pair of 
blankets, one of which he rolled up for a pillow, 
he lay down on the floor and was soon in as 
sound a sleep as Nelson himself. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


HIS BETTER SELF. 

In a confused sort of way Ralph realized that 
the party had returned ; but he did not know 
that he was not in his own room in the house. 
He slept on and was only aroused by Nelson’s 
voice in the early morning. 

“I reckon,” he said, “if you don’t mind — if 
ye was goin’outon horseback anyway — ye might 
see whether the doctor would be cornin’ out in 
this direction to-day.” 

Ralph sprang up at once. “Yes,” he said, “I’ll 
go right off. Is there anything I can do for you 
before I go. It won’t be long before I get back.” 

“No, unless a drink of water, and hand me 
that air blanket. Now you go.” And in a few 
minutes Ralph had saddled his horse and gal- 
loped away to the village. 

“I will come right out after breakfast,” said 
the doctor, when he had heard Ralph’s account; 
“but I do not believe there is any cause for 
alarm. If there were any typhus fever so near 
I should have heard of it.” Then as a sudden 
thought struck him : “How do you happen to be 
taking care of Nelson?” 

179 


180 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Oh! it was an accident,” and Ralph related 
briefly what had occurred. 

“It was a plucky thing to do, ’’said the doctor, 
“you would better come into the profession.” 

“I believe it w’ouldn’t be half bad,” said 
Ralph to himself as he hurried back to report to 
Nelson. 

At the breakfast table Mrs. Howe asked : “Did 
Ralph join you last evening?” 

“No, ’’answered Mr. Howe; “wasn’t he here?” 

“He didn’t come in to take dinner with me, so 
I supposed he had gone to you. I hope he is not 
ill. Hannah, go to Mr. Ralph’s room and see,” 
said Mrs. Howe. 

No, he was not there, and then Ernest sugges- 
ted that he might have gone for an early ride. 
“I’ll go and find out,” he said, jumping up and 
starting for the stables. In a moment or two he 
returned. “It’s all right, ”he announced ; “he will 
probably be herein a little while.” 

“Did Nelson report to you, mother, when he 
came home last night? I hope he had his usual 
good visit.” 

“He didn’t get back last night.” 

“Not get back! Why, I’d as soon expect the 
moon to fall as Nelson to vary his plans.” 

“He could have telegraphed if he did not in- 
tend to come,” said Miss Howe. 

“Yes, he could,’' her brother replied; “but I 
doubt if Nelson would commit such an extrava- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


181 


gance. He is saving up money for his sister’s 
children and he counts every penny that can he 
added to the hoard.” 

Sidney was the first to leave the table and go 
out to look after his horse ; Ralph called to him 
from the window. 

“What are you doing up there?” said Sidney; 
“why don’t you come in to your breakfast?” 

“I went for the doctor,” answered Ralph. 
“Nelson says he has been exposed to a contag- 
ious fever and nobody must come near him.” 

“But you are there.” 

“I know; but that just happened so. I wish 
you would bring me some breakfast to the car- 
riage house and I’ll come down and get it.” 

“Breakfast for Nelson?” 

“Yes, and for me too, ’’and Ralph disappeared 
before Sidney could say anything more. Had it 
been Allan he would have called out any one of 
a dozen things by way of commendation; but 
with Ralph, somehow the words stuck in his 
throat. He was sorry, but he could not help it, so 
he did the next best thing by hastening to the 
house to report, and he found them all still chat- 
ting at the table. 

Mrs. Howe was the first to speak when Sidney 
had finished. “Nelson has never been sick to my 
knowledge,” she said; “I am inclined to think 
he has only taken cold now and is more fright- 
ened than ill.” Still she looked anxious. 


182 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“The doctor will no doubt be here in a few 
minutes, ’’said Mr. Howe, as he rose and watch in 
hand started toward the door. “1 will wait for 
him outside.” Then he turned back and scan- 
ning the grave faces,said : 

“I trust this matter is not serious; but remem- 
ber it is quite as brave for Ralph to be there as 
if it were as dangerous as he thinks it is.” 

“I know it,” answered Sidney, “and that 
makes me wish 1 had said something to him be- 
fore I came in.” 

“It was awfully plucky,” said Gerald. 

“I am afraid — ” Allan’s tone was regretful — 
“that I have neglected Ralph lately.” 

“I haven’t wanted to \vork with him,” added 
Sidney, “but the trouble is you never know 
what’s in a man.” 

“Is it not, rather,” Mrs. Howe questioned, 
“that we do not train ourselves to look beneath 
the surface?” 

At this moment Hannah came from the pan- 
try with a tray. “I will take it out,” said Mr. 
Howe, “and I will let you know as soon as pos- 
sible what the doctor says.” 

The doctor came promptly, and as soon as he 
drove away Sidney said: — “I will go out and 
arrange some signals with Ralph so that he can 
whistle if he needs anything.” 

“The doctor has been here,” called Ralph as 
he saw him coming. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


183 


“Yes, I know; did he tell you what was the 
matter.” 

“He says there is no cause for alarm so far as 
he can see ; but he will send to find out about 
the fever, and we shall know to-morrow morn- 
ing.” 

“I hope that will end your quarantine.” 

“Thank you, it isn’t bad; Nelson is very en- 
tertaining.” 

“I believe,” said Miriam as the girls gathered 
at one end of the piazza, “that it is something 
dreadful after all.” 

“Grandmama does not think so,” said Ruth. 

“You can frighten yourself into a disease” — 
Vivian threw up her head as if defying an ene- 
my — “I have heard my mother say so ; don’t let’s 
any of us be afraid.” 

“Easier said than done,” replied Helen. 

“The doctor is going” — Tina stepped at once 
towards Mr. Howe and the rest followed to hear 
what he would say. Then, glad and relieved 
by his reassuring words they scattered to take 
up the varied occupations of the day. 

Each one of his companions now wished to do 
something for Ralph ; but it was Ernest who 
reached a pratical conclusion : — 

“Mr. Howe — ” he began timidly. 

“Yes, Ernest.” 

“You know Ralph will lose his chance at the 
park if he has to stay up there and cannot 


184 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


take his horse over with the others, and I 
wish — ” 

Ernest stopped short, for Mr. Howe’s face was 
growing stern; but he gathered up his courage 
and went on : 

“I wish he could ride Ronald; he likes him, 
and I could have him all ready.” 

“What horse would you ride?” 

“Oh ! it doesn’t matter about me. I may tell 
Ralph, may I?” 

“No,” answered Mr. Howe shortly, as he 
turned away from the confused boy, who had 
forgotten that any suspicion had fallen upon 
him ; but who now believed that to be the cause 
of Mr. Howe’s apparent displeasure. “Did Mr. 
Howe really think he had lamed Ronald? And 
if he did, how could he be so good to him in- 
stead of sending him away?” 

Nelson was wonderfully cheered by the doc- 
tor’s opinion of his case and exerted himself to 
entertain Ralph with stories and reminiscences. 
Ralph was a good listener and Nelson grew more 
personal in his narrative. It was late in the 
afternoon — Ralph had just returned from a long 
walk. 

“IVe ben thinkin’ since you’ve ben gone that 
I’m goin’ to make my will.” 

“Why haven’t you made it before, Nelson?” 

“Why, there wa’n’t no occasion. Ye see my 
sister she’d inherit from me, an’ I’ve alius cal- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


185 


kerlated thet her two boys ’d inherit my 
savin’s.” 

“Yes, that is right,” answered Ralph; “when a 
man hasn’t any children of course it goes to his 
sister’s or brother’s children;” and Ralph re- 
membered that Uncle Earle was a bachelor and 
he a sister’s son. 

“Not alius by a long shot!” — Nelson raised 
up on his elbow and spoke in an excited tone — 
“Ye see I was down there an’ them little chaps 
come up as peart as could be, with, ‘How d’y do, 
uncle!’ an’ 1 was so tickled to see ’em an’ see 
how much they’d growled sence I was there last 
year, an’ I giv’ ’em some little trinkets I’d 
bought an’ they was dreadful pleased.” 

“One day there wus some o’ their cronies wait- 
in’ fur them to come back from an errand they’d 
been sent on an’ they didn’t know I wus there. 
Says one on ’em says he : — ‘Hev ye seen the old 
man?’ 

“‘Yes, I’ve seen him,’ says the other one. 

“‘Wal, thet’s their uncle,’ says the fust one; 
‘he’s awful rich, an’ they’re goin’ to hev all 
his money.’ 

“ ‘How do you know?’ 

“‘Why, they told me so, ’ says he. ‘Jakey, 
he says thet when he gits the money, he ain’t a 
goin’ on no errands any more, an’ he’s goin’ to 
hev a gold watch with a chain thet’ll go in both 
pockets.’ An’ this boy said thet Jakey asked 


186 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


him if he thought such an old man would live 
very long. 

“Now,” continued Nelson, “of all low down, 
mean, contemptible hoggishness, thet beats all. 
Them little chaps — them little knee high to 
grasshoppers a waitin’ fur dead men’s shoes! 
But I’ve made up my mind. I’ll make my will 
an’ leave every derned cent to a hospital.” 

Stung to the quick, Ralph started up and went 
to the window. 

“Yes,” said Nelson; “bring me a drink; I 
want it bad.” 

“A waitin’ for dead men’s shoes.” The words 
rang and rang through Ralph’s brain. Even 
when night came he could not get rid of them; 
but tossed around while Nelson slept. If waiting 
for dead men’s shoes developed such characters 
as Nelson described, what might not his de- 
pendence upon his uncle do for him. Looking 
upon things at The Beeches as in some sense his 
own had certainly wrought disaster. — “I didn’t 
have any right to take that horse,” he said at 
length. “As soon as I can get out of this I’ll 
go and tell Uncle Earle everything, and I’ll tell 
him that I’m going to be a doctor.” Then he 
went to sleep. 

In good time the next morning the doctor ap- 
peared and greeted Ralph with: “This ends it; 
you can go to the house to wash up and get your 
breakfast. That prig of a young doctor has 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


187 


more imagination than his brains will balance ; 
but I think he won’t forget in a hurry what I’ve 
said to him. A mild form of typhoid is all that 
is the matter with his sister, and as for Nelson, 
it is only a cold and we shall have him about 
again in a day or two.” 

“That is what my grandmother thought;! 
am glad she was right.” 

“I am glad, too, for everybody’s sake. Please 
ask Mrs. Howe if I may invite myself to break- 
fast. I didn’t stop to get any.” 

The fact of the doctor being present made it 
easier for Ralph, as he was a talkative man, and 
it was a relief to the others, for with all their 
appreciation of what Ralph had done, they did 
not at once find words to express it. 

Immediately after breakfast Mr. Howe went 
into his study. Ralph followed and stood near 
an open window while his uncle sat down as 
usual at his desk. 

Without hesitation and with a modesty quite 
new to him, Ralph gave an account of what had 
happened on the day of Ronald’s accident. Mr. 
Howe asked no questions — made no remark. He 
let the confession go on fully to the end, glanc- 
ing now and then at the flushed face and 
wishing that Ralph would meet his eye squarely 
instead of part of the time looking out of the 
window and a part of the time at the bronze 
candlestick on the stand near him. 


188 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


When the story was finished and he had 
managed to convey the thought that he had ex- 
pected his uncle to do everything for him with- 
out any special exertion on his own part, he did 
turn and looking firmly into Mr. Howe’s face, 
said: — • 

“I know you cannot overlook this, I do not 
expect you to ; but you are my guardian and I 
want to ask your permission to let me begin as 
soon as possible to study for the medical pro- 
fession. I am going to be a doctor.” 

Mr. Howe’s face cleared as if by magic. “I 
congratulate you,” he said, ‘‘I congratulate you. 
You have found your better self ; your real self. 
But about the profession — we will consider that 
later. If you have the necessary qualifications 
for such a life there is nothing nobler to be de- 
sired. 

“I must tell you,” continued Mr. Howe, “that 
I have known the true state of affairs all along, 
for I went right over to Topham and looked up 
the whole matter. I didn’t wish to speak, for I 
felt you would not let things go on much longer 
without clearing Ernest.” 

“Ernest!” 

“Why yes, surely you saw that the blame must 
fall upon him ; he was with the horse when 
Nelson came in and saw him.” 

“Really, Uncle Earle, I didn’t know that you 
blamed him.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


189 


‘‘I didn’t blame him because I knew; but he 
thinks I did and he has been wonderfully brave 
about it. Then he was so sorry that you were 
cooped up with Nelson, he begged rue to-day to 
let you ride Ronald at the horse show. He said 
he would have him in good shape and it didn’t 
matter about his own riding.” 

“Oh ! Uncle Earle, did Ernest do that?” 

“Yes, I thought you w’ould like to know. He 
is in his room now ; I heard him say he was go- 
ing there to write to his mother.” 

Ralph had given an involuntary start to- 
ward the door, and as soon as Mr. Howe 
finished speaking, he hurried aw’ay. 

“Come in,” called Ernest, as Ralph knocked 
at the door. 

“I came to tell you,” said Ralph, “that I rode 
your horse and lamed him.” 

“Oh ! don’t,” said Ernest. “I know you did, 
I saw you come home ; but it’s all right — he isn’t 
my horse anyway.” 

“I’ve just told Uncle Earle,” Ralph went on, 
“and he says he’s known it all the time; he saw 
the man out at Topham the next day.” 

“He did! Then he didn’t think I did it !” and 
Ernest buried his face in his hands over his 
mother's letter as Ralph went out of the room. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 
Miriam’s success. 


Vivian was not the only one who aspired to 
win Mr. Howe’s prize. One morning she was 
surprised by the question. 

“Would you mind if I groomed my horse, too, 
Vivian?” 

“What, you, Tina?” 

“Yes, I know I am a little goose about most 
things, but I’m not one bit afraid of a horse.” 

“That is good,” answered Vivian. “Horses 
know right away when you are afraid, and they 
respect you when you are not.” 

“Fred says,” continued Tina, “thnt those 
W"ho know nothing fear nothing; but I do know 
how it feels to be thrown from a horse, and I’d 
get right on again the next minute.” 

“That is very jolly. I am going to wear my 
short skirt in the stables ; put yours on after 
breakfast and we’ll go out together.” 

“Look out, boys,” said Sidney as the two girls 
came to the table, “there’s more mischief afoot.” 

“Yes, look out,” said Tina, and she drew her- 
self up until she looked quite tall. 

“Hasn’t Tina been growing?” asked Ralph, 
190 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


191 


glancing at her excited face; “it seems tome 
that when she came she was quite small?” 

“I’ll measure with Miriam after breakfast; 
she was way above me two months ago.” 

“But,” said Sidney, “Miriam is not so tall as 
when she came.” 

“What an idea,” said Miriam ; “but I am glad 
if you think so. I was tired of being a bean pole.” 

“I think 1 never saw such a rapid change in 
any one before,” said Mrs. Howe. “Tina is 
shooting up but Miriam is broadening out. It 
shows what a real out of door life will do in a 
short time.” 

“The others have not changed much,” said 
Ralph. 

“But,” answered Ruth, “you must remember 
that we were not house plants.” 

After breakfast the test was made. It was 
found that Miriam had apparently remained the 
same height, while Tina had not only shot up 
but had lost some of the weight which Sidney 
had said made her such good ballast. 

“There really is not so much difference between 
them now,” said Mrs. Howe, and the fact that 
she could no longer be called a dumpling gave 
Tina a confident air which was pleasant to see. 

As they went out to the stables Sidney said : 
“I have lost part of my fun; you don’t tease 
worth a cent any more.” 

“It was you who cured me,” answered Tina. 


192 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Y^ou did tease me; but it wasn’t a hateful 
tease and now I don’t care at all.” 

Sidney threw her an approving glance and 
said to himself as he did so : “She is growing 
pretty like the other girls.” 

At this moment Vivian joined them, dressed 
in her mountain gown. “Oh,” said Tina, “I 
must go back and change.” 

“Is there a mountain party to-day?” asked 
Sidney ; and then when Vivian had explained — 
“Really, Mr. Howe might claim to be a magician ; 
think what his plan of life at The Beeches has 
done for Tina.” 

Douglass seemed quite complimented to have 
Tina groom him. Peter was ready to answer all 
of her questions and all went flourishingly in that 
quarter. 

“Now, Vivian,” said Gerald, “bring the 
sugar for Fulano and then try your hand on him. ” 

“Wait till I give one more touch to Bay 
Beauty’s coat. Doesn’t it shine?” 

“Yes, she has the handsomest coat of any 
horse in the stables.” 

“You mean, then, that it is easier to make her 
look well.” 

“I do; but you cannot help that. She is a 
beauty every way ; such a fine head, and that 
breadth of chest is simply magnificent. Then 
she is the finest limbed horse of all except Ful- 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


193 


“I am growing so fond of her,” said Vivian, 
‘‘and I think she likes me.” Vivian drew the 
pretty head down on her shoulder and played 
with the beautiful mane. 

“Aren’t you going to bring the sugar?” 

“Yes, for I want him to get used to me so 
that I can ride him ;but I just love Bay Beauty,” 
and with a final pat she came out of the stall. 

Don was quite as docile as could have 
been desired while Vivian pretended to finish a 
toilet which was already complete. Presently 
Gerald said : 

“I was not sure that he was used to a habit, so 
I tried him this morning before breakfast and I 
am sure he is safe. Would you like to get on 
him now?” 

“Oh, do you think I may?” 

“Yes, Mr. Howe has given permission, and 
although Grafton hesitated I talked him over. 
But you must let me lead him around the drive, 
and I think that is all we can do this morning.” 

“Very well; then when I have ridden Fulano 
I am going to see the ghost.” 

“But you promised.” 

“I promised not to try to see the ghost until I 
had ridden Fulano.” * 

“How are you going to do it?” 

“If I tell I am afraid I shall lose my chance 
of accomplishing it.” 

“I do not like you to try,” said Gerald, deter- 


194 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


mining to keep a close watch and prevent if 
possible any act which she might afterward 
regret. 

Vivian was greatly excited as she mounted 
the spirited black horse, but the excitement was 
all confined to herself. The horse was perfectly 
quiet and nothing happened after all. 

“There, Nelson,” she said as she dismounted, 
“my neck isn’t broken yet.” 

“ ’Taint no fault o’ yourn. Miss Vivian. I wish 
ye wouldn’t take too many chances for I feel it 
in my bones thet suthin’ is goin’ to happen.” 

“Do you suppose he heard you, Gerald, trying 
to persuade me to give up my pet project?” 

“No, Nelson says every few days that ‘if 
suthin’ don’t happen it’ll be contrary to natur, 
thet’s all.’ ” 

The tone was so exactly like Nelson’s that 
Vivian laughed merrily as they followed the 
others, who had already started for the house. 

The evening of that day was the one set for 
Helen’s dinner, and as they left the dining-room 
Sidney said : 

“I do not think there is much doubt now about 
the Parkinson prize.” 

‘ ‘I should think not, ’ ’ assented Gerald ‘ ‘Helen 
has simply surpassed herself.” 

“I am sure I did well,” said Vivian. 

“Yes, but how?” 

“By copying Ruth as nearly as I could,” 
laughed Vivian. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


195 


“I should think the only fun would be in try- 
ing to exercise one’s originality,” said Gerald. 

“Tina is always original,” added Allan, “for 
nobody approaches her coffee.” 

“I am sure her dinner was good too,” — Ernest 
did not feel that praise of the coffee was enough. 

“Of course it was,” said Ruth. 

“And now,” said Allan, “I have all my 
points and it is to be a dead walk over. I shall 
sail away with the Parkinson prize right under 
your very noses. I’ll give such a dinner as none 
of you ever saw before.” 

“Yes, I can imagine it,” and there was just 
a shade of scorn in Vivian’s voice. 

“Don’t be so sure,” said Sidney, “there’s one 
election district that hasn’t been heard from yet.” 

“What? Who?” 

“Why Miriam hasn’t tried this time — her first 
dinner didn’t count.” 

“Oh! don’t speak to Miriam,” cautioned 
Ruth, “she has been so sensitive since that 
fiasco.” 

“You don’t think she will try?” 

“Oh! no, I am sure she won’t.” 

While this conversation was going on, Miriam 
was with Mrs. Howe in her room. “I have a 
confession to make,” she said, seating herself on 
a low stool at the older lady’s feet. 

“Are you quite sure that you wish to make it 
to me?” asked Mrs. Howe. 


196 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“I should like very much to tell you if I may?” 

Mrs. Howe rested a hand lightly on Miriam’s 
shoulder, and the young girl began : — 

“Some time ago they all wanted me to go to 
Deerfoot for the morning; but I didn’t feel like 
it and I stayed behind to read. You thought 
we were all away and didn’t see me on the divan 
behind the curtain. I came in from the side 
door as Ernest went out to join the others. I 
didn’t mean to listen and I didn’t pay any atten- 
tion to what was said until I heard my name. 
Then I should have gone away; but somehow I 
couldn’t. I was so angry with Mr. Howe — so 
wickedly angry — I meant to go right in and 
speak to him and then pack my trunks and go 
home. But you w’ere so kind and said such 
sweet things I didn’t. I went to my room and 
threw myself down on my bed and cried and 
cried. Then it came before me just like a pic- 
ture — like a panorama — what I had done and 
what I was like.” 

“You must not be unjust to yourself,” said 
Mrs. Howe. 

“Do you think — do you think, dear Mrs. 
Howe, that I can ever learn to be unselfish like 
Ruth?” 

“I think you will be unselfish,” answered her 
comforter, “and now what I wish is that you 
should let yourself be happy.” 

“I am so mortified about that dreadful dinner,” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


197 


said Miriam; “I have been so miserable about 
it I couldn^t enjoy the others. The other girls 
have gotten up such fine dinners and I might 
have done so too if I had not been so foolish.” 

“Why not try again?” said Mrs. Howe en- 
couragingly. 

“Oh! I couldn’t.” 

“I would if I were you.” 

“Would you really do it.^” said Miriam, her 
face brightening as it had not done for days. 

“Yes, indeed I should. And I should have 
the dinner this week.” 

“Could I plan a little here with you now, or 
would it tire you too much?” 

“Not at all; nothing would give me greater 
pleasure. I will listen without suggesting, for 
if it is to be a prize dinner you must do it all 
yourself. I oifered all of the girls the use of my 
especial cook books but no one has used them.” 

“And may I see them?” 

“Yes, they are on the third shelf of that book- 
case near my desk.” 

“And this manuscript one, is this yours?” 

“Yes, in that I copied the receipts that we 
particularly liked.” 

“Oh !” exclaimed Miriam, opening at the cake 
pages, “white pound cake with rose decoration. 
What does that mean?” 

“It means that the icing is colored a delicate 
pink and the French candied rose leaves put on 
in little clusters on top.” 


198 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“How perfectly lovely. Could I do it?” 

“Easily; I will show you how and I have a 
box of the rose leaves in that drawer.” 

“I wish I could make icv^- cream.” 

“That is not difficult. One of the men always 
freezes the cream.” 

“Let me see what kinds — peach ice cream — 
Oh! Mrs. Howe, let it be peach ice cream.” 

“It shall be as you please, my dear.” 

“But if it shouldn’t be good.” 

“You know you have tried a number of things 
lately and they have all been right ; you have 
the touch and the knack of a good cook.” 

“And I’ll make some chocolate drops and 
peppermints for the bonbon dishes. I made just 
a few the other day and the girls beg me to 
make more.” 

“ That will make your dessert very complete 
and handsome. Now for the dinner part — and 
remember not to attempt more than you can 
comfortably accomplish.” 

“I will not be so foolish as to refuse assistance 
this time,” said Miriam; “but isn’t it to be my 
dinner, no matter how many things are handed 
to me or put away for me?” 

“Certainly it is, you could not do all; but I 
understand that you wish to be perfectly con- 
scientious about it.” 

“I might make some things the day before.” 

“Yes, the cake and the candy; anything else?” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


199 


‘‘I wish I could have some cheese straws to go 
with the salad.” 

“What salad have you chosen?” 

“Lettuce mayonnaise.” 

“Try them,” said Mrs. Howe, “and if they 
fail you still have biscuits.” 

“The soup can be ready of course, and the 
fish must be creamed and in little cups, for I 
couldn’t be in the kitchen and at the table at 
the same time.” 

“No.” 

“But if I look after the fire and have the fish 
in the cups and written down just when they 
were to go in and come out, that would be 
right?” 

“Yes, dear.” 

“I should like to have roast capon and that 
with the vegetables could be kept hot while I 
went to dinner.” 

“Is that all?” 

“I think so, only I should like to have invita- 
tions; would you?” 

“By all means. How would you like to invite 
Mr. Parkinson, too?” 

“Delightful! I should like it of all things.” 

At supper time Miriam brought the letter bag, 
and with a very demure face, handed it to Mr. 
Howe. 

“What is this?” he asked. 

“An extra,” answered Vivian. 


200 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


“Extra in every sense of the word,” said Mr. 
Howe, as — after distributing the others — he 
opened his exquisitely written dinner invitation. 

“Oh!” exclaimed Sidney, “we cannot begin 
to approach this elegance. Please, grandma, 
issue a ukase or something and say that we may 
accept on the spot.” 

“No,” replied Mrs. Howe, “when you are in- 
vited to dinner, the least you can do is to 
acknowledge the courtesy in due form.” 

A groan w^as the response ; but the answers 
were written and on the breakfast table the next 
morning. 

“Dear me,” said Sidney, “but I shall be glad 
when this is over. The girls look so important, 
and I am sure Miriam will be careworn.” 

When the day came, luncheon was served on 
the piazza, the dining room being mysteriously 
closed until evening. 

“I say, fellows,” said Allan, “we’d better 
telegraph for new neckties or chokers or some- 
thing, for how on earth are we to keep up with 
the elegance that seems to be preparing behind 
those doors.” 

“Miriam asked us to wear our prettiest 
gowns,” said Tina. 

“Which we will do our utmost to appreciate,” 
said Gerald. 

At six o’clock Mrs. Howe and Miriam were in 
the drawing room ready to receive the guests. 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


201 


They had not expected to be received formally, 
but they were equal to the emergency, a little 
suppressed amusement adding to the excitement 
of the occasion. Miriam was exquisitely gowned 
in a white organdie sprayed with sweet brier 
draped over rose color ; but her dainty costume 
was not half so attractive as her face, flushed and 
happy with pleasure. 

When the dining room doors were opened, 
exclamations of surprise burst from several of 
the party and Mrs. Howe, who had given per- 
mission without being allowed to see the result, 
was extremely gratified to find how much 
Miriam had accomplished. 

Daylight had been shut out and rose-shaded 
wax candles had been lighted in the old 
fashioned candelabra which matched the rich 
epergne in the centre of the table. Roses and 
rare ferns from a distant greenhouse shed a 
delicious fragrance through the room and were 
in themselves a feast of color. Bonbons and 
olives rested in exquisite glass dishes, alternat- 
ing with the salted almonds, vrhich Vivian de- 
clared were the only things she knew how to 
cook or ever expected to cook well. 

Hannah had been heard to remark to Minna 
that there was a great deal of decoration for a 
very little dinner — no game and no entrees — but 
both were much too good hearted not to do all in 
their power to make it a success. 


202 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


It was a success, and as the dinner progressed, 
the boys vied with each other in paying com- 
pliments. 

“It wasn’t fair, Miriam,” said Helen, “to have 
your dinner come last ; you could see all the de- 
fects in ours and avoid them.” 

“Please to remember,” said Allan, “that 
Miriam paved the way for all of you. This 
crowning success is fairly earned.” 

“If Mr. Parkinson could only have come.” 
This was Miriam’s one regret. 

“He certainly is the loser,” said Mr. Howe. 
“I w-ill try to make up for his absence by enjoy- 
ing another bonbon. I seldom eat confections; 
but Miriam, these are the crowning feature of an 
altogether successful dinner.” 

As he said this, Mrs. Howe rose and they all 
w’ent out on the piazza where it was cooler, for 
the lights had made the closed room very warm. 
Miriam found an excuse to go back for some 
flowers and she lingered, loth to leave the scene 
of her late triumph. When she returned Mrs. 
Howe met her and said: “Very well done, my 
dear, very well done indeed. I only wish your 
mother had been here to see.” 


CHAPTER XIX. 


DINNER AL FRESCO. 

“The girls went to a lot of trouble, didn’t 
they?” said Allan, when Miriam’s effort was 
being discussed. 

“Yes,” replied Sidney; “do you think we can 
do as well?” 

“Better, I think ; that is, in our particular 
style. I can’t say that, up here in the country, 
I like hot house flowers, such a pile of silver and 
all the rest of it. It seemed to me just a little 
bit out of the way, you know.” 

“Incongruous?” suggested Gerald. 

“Yes, that is what I mean.” 

“But the girls enjoyed it,” said Ralph. 

“Yes,” said Allan, “the girls enjoyed it — girls 
do seem to enjoy that sort of thing — that is 
some girls, I am not sure that they all do. But 
it seems to me there was too much hard work 
spent on that table for the pleasure they got out 
of it. I don’t believe I care much for decora- 
tion.” 

“I do,” said Sidney. 

“But you were born an artist,” answered 
Allan. 


203 


204 


UNCLE ;EARLE’S monopoly 


“I care for decorations,” said Gerald, “and I 
was just thinking what we could do with our 
table — that is if you let us help you, Allan.” 

“Of course, it’s our dinner; I am only talking 
nonsense about the prize.” 

“What do you say to giving it out here under 
the big beech tree at five o’clock.” 

“That will be sensible,” approved Sidney, 
“and convenient too. — Oh ! I forgot, Ralph isn’t 
sworn in.” 

“Don’t mind me,” said Ralph rising; “I am 
going to talk with Grafton.” 

“No, don’t go.” 

‘ ‘I must. I am not going to take any chances, 
for I intend to be first in my classes next year, if 
I work night and day for it.” 

“Hurrah for you!” said Gerald. “Where did 
you get this new ambition?” 

“I don’t know — does it strike you as new? I 
suspect Grafton had something to do with it.” 

“I wish,” said Allan, as Ralph walked away, 
“that Solon could inspire me to that extent.” 

At this moment Nelson appeared. “Did you 
tell about the Cookers?” he asked. 

“No, we give a dinner next week; after that 
we shall tell,” explained Allan. 

“A dinner by candle light in the day time?” 

“No, sir, out of doors under the big beech.” 

“Won’t the victuals get cold?” 

“Not if we bring them right from the cave.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


205 


“Oh! thet’s it. Wal now, thet is an idee.” 

“We are to open the door and give up our 
secret on the day of the dinner.” 

“About time, I should say. If I ken help ye 
any let me know; I must go now.” 

“Since Nelson has been talking,” said Gerald, 
“I have formed a picture in my mind of how the 
whole thing may look.” 

“Paint us your picture.” 

“Decorations entirely of wild flowers and those 
exquisite ferns at Deerfoot Falls.” 

“Good.” 

“No extra silver; but some cut glass.” 

“Yes. What about invitations?” 

“Oh!” said Sidney, “we must be particular 
about those ; I heard Aunt Margaret tell the 
girls that they should not have used the mail 
bag. Dinner invitations must be delivered when 
possible by special messenger.” 

“And, Sidney,” exclaimed Allan, “I’ve an 
idea !” 

“A rarity with you — let us have it.” 

“If Gerald will put on that stunning archery ’ 
suit of his and deliver the notes it will be great.” 

“I’ll do it,” said Gerald. “How would you 
like the invitations engraved on birch bark?” 

“The very thing. But there should be some- 
thing about The Beeches ; what a pity a birch 
isn’t a beech.” 

“Tie the corners,” said Gerald, “with that 


206 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


tough meadow grass and add tassells of beech 
nuts.” Then he lifted his whistle to answer 
Mr. Grafton’s call, which meant a gathering 
of the clan. 

The next day Gerald disappeared, to return in 
the garb of a most picturesque page. Green 
velveteens, ruffled shirt and a dark green mantle 
thrown back over one shoulder, formed his cos- 
tume. 

“Hello!” called Allan, as he and Sidney met 
Gerald in the wood, “that velvet mantle is a 
telling addition. Where did you get it?” 

“It is grandmama’s,” said Sidney. “I have 
seen it in one of her old chests.” 

“Yes,” replied Gerald ; “but do not detain me, 
I have important messages to deliver to the lords 
and ladies at The Beeches.” 

“Pry thee, pretty page, of what import may he 
your message?” 

“How may I know, good sirs. I am but a 
simple page.” 

“You’re just out of sight,” said Allan; “but 
hurry up and get back, will you?” 

The girls were delighted with the invitations 
and charmed with the messenger. “Aunt Mar- 
garet,” said Ruth, “do invite this courteous 
page to dinner. It would be a shame to lose 
him at once; he makes such a pretty picture.” 

“I pray you, gentle lady,” pleaded Gerald, 
“to excuse me, I have important business else- 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


207 


where,” and he hastened back to the wood 
again. 

The ‘^alfrisco” dinner, as Nelson called it, was 
after his own heart and when the day came he 
worked for it with a will. ‘T don’t go in much 
for hifalutin’ names,” he said, “but this one 
seems to hev some sense to it. You say it means 
out o’ doors an’ my brother thet went mining 
down in Frisco, he said he hed to eat out o’ 
doors most of the time. 

“Now boys,” continued Nelson, “I’m a goin’ 
to ask a favor. I’ve got suthin’ to bring out 
from the village this arternoon an’ when you 
hear me cornin’ thru the bush yonder I want ye 
to shut the shop door an’ not look till I drive to 
the barn.” 

“How shall we know. Nelson?” 

“Oh! I’ll sing Swanee River or suthin’; I 
reckon you’ll know then.” 

“All right, we’ll keep a weather ear in that 
direction.” 

“I believe it is the Parkinson prize,” said 
Sidney; “but we won’t look.” 

Of all the beautiful beeches in the country 
there is certainly none more beautiful than the 
one which spread its great branches over the 
horse-shoe table which the boys constructed 
early in the forenoon, or rather put together, 
for it had long been planned and the parts stored 
in the carriage house. The white drapery of 


208 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


the table was bordered with deeply tinted red 
leaves from the swamp maples, while golden 
rod, purple asters and ferns formed the main 
decorations. Artistic bunches of scarlet berries 
adorned each lady’s place and tiny purple this- 
tles formed the boutonnieres. 

The color scheme was further carried out in 
rustic baskets of fruit alternating with bowls of 
flowers along the table. The clusters of white 
and of purple grapes fell over and almost hid 
the crimson cheeked peaches, the golden pears 
and the rosy apples which lay beneath. 

Gerald and Sidney arranged while Allan crit- 
icised. ‘‘There,” he said finally, “I could not 
have done that better myself. No, don’t touch 
a stem. It has a woodsey look that you will 
spoil if you do any more.” 

“I do think” — Sidney stepped back to get a 
better view — “that it is a complete contrast to 
the indoor table and that is what we are aiming 
for.” 

“Yes,” assented Allan, “I think it will do. 
Now let us run over the menu to see if we have 
forgotten anything. Nelson, you will open the 
clams and put them on the ice on time.” 

“Ye ken jest depend thet I will.” 

“Wait a minute till I see if every lamp is 
trimmed perfectly even.” 

“No, you needn’t,” said Sidney. “If I haven’t 
a straight eye then I haven’t anything, and I 
looked after every one.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


209 


‘‘You know I must have an extra one under 
that little table to poach the eggs.” 

“I know; that is all right.” 

“Are you quite sure of your cream for the 
fish sauce?” asked Gerald; “I tremble to think 
of the quiet sarcasm that would follow any fail- 
ure in that direction.” 

“You need not worry ; that will be all right.” 

“The beef is ready?” 

“Yes.” 

“But Allan, most high and mighty com- 
mander, how do you get around having another 
course? I thought more than the first number 
was forbidden.” 

“I told you that Mrs. Howe had written to 
Mr. Parkinson to ask him what he had done 
with birds and he sent back the menu of a din- 
ner 'which he had recently given. Didn’t I show 
it to you?” 

“No.” 

“Wait a minute, I’ll get it. Let me see — 
here it is in my pocket,” and as he took it out 
the others leaned over to read. 

“I see,” exclaimed Sidney, “the birds are 
served with dressed celery, that gives the salad 
at the same time. Lucky, Nelson knows how 
to prepare the birds, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, but we have enough to do; we must 
hurry up.” 

“It was good of them all to go off and leave us 
perfectly unhampered,” said Gerald. 


210 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Indeed it was,” echoed Allan. 

Mrs. Howe sat on the piazza to advise from 
time to time and to direct what dishes were to 
be carried out. 

“I do wish,” said Gerald, “that we could 
screen the door of the cave and not show the 
cookers until after dinner ; but I see no way to 
do it.” 

Mrs. Howe agreed that the screen would be 
most desirable and, after some futile suggestions 
from each one, herself hit upon the right thing. 

“There are two very large clothes horses in 
the laundry,” she said, “if you could drape 
them prettily.” 

“We can,” answered Sidney, “those curtains 
we took down for Aunt Margaret will do, covered 
with a mass of that wild grape vine just beyond 
the stables; the whole thing will take only a 
few minutes.” 

“There” — said Sidney a little later — “if I 
could send that to the Paris Salon or the Acad- 
emy, my fortune would be made. Hark ! There’s 
Nelson — scatter quick, you know we promised.” 

“Way daoun upon the Swa-ne-ee River,” came 
from the bush, as Nelson called a grove near 
the entrance ; but the lugubrious notes soon 
ceased for there was not a person anywhere in 
sight. He drove to the house and then toward 
the stables, calling to the boys, who responded 
at once. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


211 


“Well, Nelson, I suppose there’s some great 
secret.” 

“There jest is. But there — I aint sayin’ 
nothin’.” 

“Oh! see here now — you can’t put us off that 
way.” 

“Yes, I can, and I will, fur it aint my secret 
anyhow.” 

“It’s grandmama’s then and she said it was 
for this afternoon.” 

“Here comes the clan,” said Gerald, “it’s 
mighty good of them not to look this way. We 
must hurry up if we mean to get through and 
into clean toggery in time.” 

It was a perfect afternoon and perfectly 
happy young people v»"ere gathered under the 
big beech tree. The girls were in ecstacies over 
the shape of the table, over the decorations, over 
the woodland screen. Presently Miss Howe ap- 
peared : “I was waiting for mother,” she said; 
“but Hannah brings me word that she wishes me 
to come out and she will follow.” 

The boys smiled knowingly at this and in a 
moment Mrs. Howe came out on the piazza 
accompanied by a tall gray-bearded gentleman. 

“The surprise ! But who is it? Who is it?” 
exclaimed the girls. 

“I know, it must be Mr. Parkinson.” 

“Right you are, Tina,” said Allan. 

“Cheer, oh! cheer,” exclaimed Vivian, “why 
don’t you cheer, boys?” 


212 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


And they did give a rousing cheer, as, genial 
and smiling, their honored guest approached the 
table and was given the seat at Mrs. Howe's 
right hand. 

For a moment the little-necks were neglected 
for the menu cards. Small shell-like tree fungi 
had been carefully etched by Sidney’s ready 
hand. The name of the guest, the menu of the 
dinner, and a little spider web were on each one. 
On Tina’s the web was nearly covered by an all- 
out-of-proportion spider. 

“My favorite soup — how did you manage it?” 
said Mr Howe, greatly surprised. “And isn't 
this menu more or less mythical?” he inquired; 
“you surely could not do all this away from the 
house.” 

“Better skip a part of this hearty soup;” 
advised Mr. Parkinson ; “you will be like the 
small boy who cried because he couldn’t eat 
more, before you get through.” 

“Have you faith that it is all bona lideV^ 

“It does not require much faith for me to be- 
lieve it,” was the reply. 

“Dear, dear, which shall I skip?” asked Mir- 
iam as she read : 

“Trout baked in cream, roast beef, baked 
tomatoes, cauliflower, quail with celery, creamed 
rice, fruit — coffee.” 

“Yes, which?” Vivian looked quizzically at 
Allan. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


213 


“Skip the course which you girls can cook 
better than we fellows can.” 

“Kindly postpone our humiliation,” begged 
Vivian. 

Miss Howe was most enthusiastic over the 
quail. “The perfection of flavor,” she insisted. 

“But own up, boys,” exhorted Mr. Howe, 
“you didn’t get this absolutely ideal creamed 
rice pudding out of your sand oven.” 

“We absolutely did. Uncle Earle,” and Sidney 
enjoyed Mr. Parkinson’s amused smile. 

“So you are the villain in the play, are you, 
Parkinson?” said Mr. Howe, addressing him. 

“Didn’t I tell you I would convert you to my 
latest hobby, when you refused to listen.” 

“Tell him, Mr, Parkinson,” said Sidney. 

“When the boys came to me about their cook- 
ing, I saw my opportunity,” Mr. Parkinson 
turned to Uncle Earle, “but what they have 
done has gone beyond my most sanguine expec- 
tations.” 

While they chatted the pudding was removed 
and the fruit and coifee were served. 

“I regret exceedingly that I could not get 
here for Miss Miriam’s dinner; but I have 
brought something with me which I hope will 
atone for my absence on that occasion,” said Mr. 
Parkinson, as he rose to direct Nelson and his 
assistant who carried a mysterious box which 
they placed behind his chair. 


214 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“The prize! The prize! Yes, Miriam’s 
prize.” There was no question at all as to whom 
it belonged. 

Miriam went over to Mr. Howe and spoke to 
him in a low tone. “To be perfectly fair I 
am afraid I shall have to do it,” he answered. 
Then to Parkinson : ‘ ‘I wrote you that Miss Mir- 
iam Snowdon had taken the prize, but I find this 
dinner of Allan’s better in some respects and 
honesty compels me to appear unchivalrous.” 

“It is all right,” said Miriam cheerily ; “but I 
do wish I knew what is in the box.” 

“The newest and most improved Cooker.” 

“Such as the boys have ! Such as they cooked 
this dinner with!” The girls grew more and 
more excited. 

“Yes, only a little better, and it gives me a 
keen pleasure to present this one to the hero of 
the hour.” 

“There is a slight mistake, Mr Parkinson,” — 
Allan rose gracefully and spoke well — “Miss 
Miriam won her prize fairly and honestly; but 
as for me, Nelson and the fellows helped me any 
amount and, after all, we did not do it — it was 
the Cooker.” 

“Who says that chivalry is dead?” said Mr. 
Parkinson, as he drew Miriam’s arm through 
his and led her to the box and explained to her 
with the other interested listeners, the various 
capabilities of the prize which it contained. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


215 


‘‘Now, boys, where are yours? You said you 
would show them to-day. The time has expired. ’ ’ 
All of the girls were eager in their exclamations. 

“Only one thing makes me hesitate,” said 
Allan, as Sidney and Gerald drew aside the 
screen, “and that is that Tina is afraid of 
spiders.” 

“Oh! what a goose I was,” exclaimed Tina; 
“it is the smoke house after all.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


THE HORSE SHOW. 

Vivian was the only one of the girls who had 
ever seen a real horse show, a fact which gave 
her a certain prominence during the prepara- 
tions for carrying out Mr. Graves’ idea and the 
privilege of correcting some mistakes which the 
boys inadvertently made. 

‘‘Yes,” admitted Gerald one morning at break- 
fast, “you are right, Vivian; but this is in the 
country and a little different I think; we might 
do some things differently here.” 

“I suspect, after all,” said Mr. Howe, “that 
we shall not have much to say about it. We 
have been such a close corporation at The 
Beeches, with so many interests of our own, we 
forget that other people may possibly have 
notions quite opposed to ours.” 

“I do feel,” said Ruth laughing, “as if it 
should all be as we say.” 

“Not really, my child.” 

“Why no, grandmama, but when we do things 
it all seems to come out right, and I have 
visited girls where everything was hit-and-miss, 
like Martha’s new quilt.” 

216 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


217 


‘‘Look out, Ruth, pride goes before a fall” — 
Sidney held up a warning finger. 

“And you think my Lady Gray will tumble me 
off at the horse show. Maybe she will ; but I 
don’t believe it.” 

“I am not a Methusaleh” — Mr. Grafton met 
a general smile as he spoke for he had such a 
youthful air; “but I have had some experience, 
and I should like to say that I have never spent 
a summer when I have seen so much good leader- 
ship and so little time wasted on the pre- 
liminaries of pleasure.” 

“Behold!” — Allan included the whole party 
in a wave of his hand— “behold the future leaders 
of society, of reform, of political parties and of 
things generally.” 

“Yes, and all of us always right,” added Ruth. 

“Here is a suggestive scrap,” said Mr. Howe, 
who held the morning paper in his hand. 

“Read it to us please.” 

“ ‘I go for my party, right or wrong, 

It’s the only way to fight. 

‘You do?’ said another, hot and strong; 

H go for my party right.’ 

“The worst of it was the right was wrong. 
And the man so full of fight 

Had sometimes a wicked platform strong 
And seldom one that was right.” 

“But one thing cannot be wrong,” said Sid- 
ney, “and that is that Mr. Grafton shall be the 
leader of our cavalcade at the horse show. He 


218 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


modestly insists that I shall occupy that posi- 
tion ; but I absolutely decline.” 

‘•Surely,” insisted Miss Howe, “the master of 
the horse should lead on this occasion,” as she 
rose to greet Mr. Graves and his daughter who 
had just arrived. 

“We won’t apologize,” began Mr. Graves in 
his hearty voice, “for such an early call, for it 
is the only time to make sure of you. Such 
activity as you display stirs the blood in my 
veins, and I believe I shall have to grow young 
again in spite of myself.” 

“Indeed it is very good of you to come over 
early, and we were talking over the plans for 
Thursday. Is there any way in which our party 
can be of assistance to-day?” 

“I believe so. First of all. Miss Howe, did 
you intend to ride with the others?” 

“No, I shall not ride,” answered Miss Howe. 
' ‘T wish,” began Ruth ; but Sidney caught her 
eye with a merry- glance and gave his head the 
least possible shake. 

“I am very glad,” Mr. Graves spoke quickly, 
“for I wish very much to have you help me in 
giving the prizes.” 

“That will be a great i)leasure,” she answered. 

“There is another matter,” he continued, 
“and that is, the bringing up of these fresh air 
children has caused more or less unfavorable 
comment among some of the workmen here. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


219 


Bush and Daly were talking over at the track 
yesterday and I heard Bush say he didn’t see 
why, if the bloated bond-holders had so much 
money to spend, they didn’t do more for the 
church here. That it had been tough times with 
the farmers, and the children hadn’t had any too 
much done for them.” 

“I am afraid that is true; but we have been 
thinking — ” 

“Then Daly added — ” Mr. Graves went on un- 
consciously ignoring Miss Howe’s remark — “that 
he didn’t believe much in furrin missions an}^- 
way, and he thought the fresh air children might 
have been left at home.” 

“Oh! I know!” exclaimed Vivian. 

“What’s that?” asked Mr. Graves, evidently 
surprised at the interruption ; but there was no 
reply, and Vivian declared afterwards that he 
nearly scared her out of her wits. “I beg 3"Our 
pardon,” she said hurriedly", and Mr. Graves 
continued: — 

“I had an idea, Mr. Plowe, if you approved, 
we could make room for the scholars from jmur 
Sunda}^ school and give them a picnic after- 
wards. Several of the residents here would like 
to join in that.” 

“Admirable idea,” answered Mr. Howe. 

“I should like very much to have 3^our ^mung 
ladies who have taught in the Sunday School sit 
with the children ; but of course the^" cannot 


220 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


since they ride ; hut we must manage it some- 
how.” 

“I think Miss Graves and I could arrange 
that, could we not?” asked Miss Howe. 

The other lady quietly assented. She was a 
timid person who dutifully carried out her 
father’s ideas : but she was gratefully glad of 
Margaret Howe’s assistance. 

“May I offer a suggestion, sir?” asked Gerald 
with his most deferential tone. 

“Yes, certainly,” Mr. Graves turned toward 
him. 

“Do you think it would be a good thing to 
offer one of the prizes for the best agricultural 
team — would it interest the farmers?” 

“Might — might — I believe it would be a good 
idea. I’ll do that and advertise it right away. 
Come Lavinia,” to his daughter, “we must be 
going.” 

“Bless you, bless you,” said Allan, when they 
were out of sight. “I didn’t dare lift my voice 
after Vivian was squelched; but I feel that your 
courage has redeemed the honor of this party.” 

“Now then,” advised Mr. Howe, “it seems to 
me that the best thing to be done is far you, 
Grafton, to go over and settle all the details. If 
you need me I will come ; otherwise I will attend 
to some things here.” 

“I heard Mr. Graves say,” said Ruth, that he 
wished very much to have a floral arch at the 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


221 


entrance, but there was no one to undertake 
it.’» 

“It’s a tremendous undertaking,” answ’ered 
Sidney, “I tried one once.” 

“Unless you want me for something else, I’d 
like to see if I could do it,” said Ralph, who was 
anxious to help but did not seem to find any- 
thing to take hold of. 

“I’d like to go with you,” said Ernest. 

“Very well, go over with Mr. Grafton; per- 
haps you can spring the arch to-day and get it 
started.” 

Never had there been more busy days at The 
Beeches. Mrs. Howe, Ruth and Miriam were 
closely occupied with garments for various 
small tots who had sprung up by the wayside as 
it were, and who would never be able to under- 
stand why they were left out if their mothers 
kept them at home from the festivities. Helen 
and Tina 'worked steadily with Miss Howe on 
the decorations for the boxes and Vivian did 
something in helping them — a great deal they 
said — although she w^orked fitfully and was off 
as soon as possible, bent upon carrying out what 
for the time being was the main aim and object 
of her existence. 

She and Gerald were the only ones who did 
not hurry away from the stables. They were 
the only ones who found time during the day to 
take extra rides rather than rest on the piazzas. 


222 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


They would ride out with a very grave air; but, 
once on the road, Vivian would start up at a 
rapid pace hastening to pass the turn where 
they might meet anyone of the home party. 

“Don’t get so excited,” Gerald would say, 
“it unfits you for good work.” 

“I am not excited at all,” was the invariable 
reply, and then they would dismount, change 
horses and Vivian w’ould continue her practice 
with Fulano. 

“He certainly is the most intelligent creature 
I ever saw,” she said one morning, “and I believe 
he understands every word I say. Bay Beauty 
is lovely; but Don Fulano is superb.” 

“You feel perfectly at ease on him?” 

“Perfectly. I am sure he likes me.’’ 

“Yes, I am sure of it too. And now we must 
go back or someone will suspect what we are 
doing.” 

But there were too many interests for these 
special rides to be noticed and the great day 
came without any hint of Vivian’s plan to ride 
Fulano getting afloat. 

September was more than usually beautiful 
that year. There was enough rain but not too 
much. Beautiful skies and refreshing breezes 
made perfect weather, so all the young people 
said and the older ones agreed with them. 

Mr. Graves had planned his programme ac- 
cording to his own idea ; but he had re-arranged 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


223 


it somewhat afterwards and now everything 
was as nearly satisfactory to everybody as possi- 
ble under any circumstances and all who were 
to take part were in high spirits. 

The driving park was transformed into a 
scene of gayety quite surpassing anything before 
seen in that part of the country. The floral 
arch at the entrance was pronounced a marvel ; 
but it took until almost the last minute to get 
the last plumes of golden rod and clusters of 
dahlias in place. When Ralph and Ernest 
reached home they found that they were being 
anxiously watched for, great fear having been 
expressed lest they should be late. 

Miss Howe with Miss Graves had perfected 
their arrangements for the children, making 
sure that all should be seated so that every one 
could see to advantage, and the committee in 
charge of the boxes had finished their work 
some hours before ; there was nothing to be 
thought of now except the order of the cavalcade. 

Mr. Howe, who had declined to be one of the 
judges took a seat by his mother’s side in the 
carriage from which she, interested and smiling, 
watched the movements of the equestrian party. 

Mr. Grafton was cool and calm ; but the only 
other person who betrayed no excitement was 
Gerald. He was a little in the rear and leaned 
with affected carelessness against Bay Beauty’s 
side while he held Fulano’s bridle in his left 


224 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


hand. When the others mounted and trotted 
ahead or wheeled about waiting for the word of 
command, he came up to the steps, as Vivian, 
flushed and radiant, with dark eyes flashing and 
head erect came out of the front door. In an 
instant she had mounted Fulano and Gerald on 
Bay Beauty was at her side. 

‘‘Gerald! Vivian! W'hat are you going to 
do?” These and other exclamations made Mr. 
Grafton turn to see what was the matter. In a 
flash he comprehended the situation, and his first 
thought was one of admiration for the brave 
girl. He turned to Mr. Howe to see if he ap- 
proved and, receiving a nod in reply to his 
questioning look, he rode up to Vivian : 

“Are you sure you can* do it?” he asked. 

“Perfectly sure. I can, can’t I, Gerald?” 

“Yes, I am sure you can,” he replied. 

Mrs. Howe was troubled: “It is a wilful act,” 
she said to her son. 

“Yes,” he answered, “Vivian is wilful; but 
she hasn’t stopped to think this time.” 

“None of them know, do they, that the prize 
you will give is the rider’s own horse? I mean 
the one that has been called his through the 
summer.” 

“No.” 

Mr. Grafton rode up and down the line, criti- 
cally inspecting each horse and its rider. Then. 
— all being satisfactory — they filed slowly out 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


225 


of the avenue on their way to the park, where 
they were eagerly expected. In addition to 
their number, seven young ladies and ten young 
men who were staying in the neighborhood, had 
come with their saddle horses to compete for 
the blue ribbon. Several carriage teams were 
in fine shape, each coachman determined to win 
the red ribbon, and a score of farmers were 
bringing in their teams to compete for the green. 

Each new arrival was welcomed with cheers; 
the boys of the Sunday Sch(*ol and the older 
members of the fresh air contingent shouting 
themselves hoarse in the most intense enjoyment. 

“Say, Jack, which o’ them teams do you say 
’ll get the prize? I choose the big bays.” 

“Pshaw, Jim, there ain’t a team there that 
can hold a candle to the judge’s blacks. Whoop- 
la!” as Judge Long drove up in a light surrey 
which held beside himself three merry looking 
girls. Snooks, most aristocratic of pugs, sat up 
on his mistress’s lap and looked down conde- 
scendingly on all inferior beings beneath him. 
The dog made a sensation among the children : 
“Look out!” ‘T say, don’t throw me down,” and, 
“I’ll pitch you over,” betrayed the growing ex- 
citement; but Miss Howe interfered and good 
humor again prevailed. 

“There they come. There they are. There’s 
the Kentucky thoroughbreds,” and again there 
was shouting and laughter. In the midst of 


226 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


the shoving and pushing, one little fellow uncon- 
sciously dropped himself through the seats down 
to the grass below, where — although quite un- 
hurt — he howled with mortification at the gibes 
that were cast after him. 

“Shut up, it’s going to begin,” and a tall 
supple youth lifted the little chap back to his 
place, every woe pacified by the promise of the 
show. 

It was a brilliant scene. The trees about the 
park which already showed autumnal hints, 
formed a fitting background for the picture of 
moving life and pleasure. The boxes were gay 
with handsome costumes, with waving flags and 
with flowers, and in the two groups of children 
each one was decked in holiday array. 

The horses felt the influence of the hour and 
moved as if they felt it incumbent upon them to 
carry themselves with dignity and spirit. First 
came the carriage teams ; but their showing was 
felt to be a mere form. Snooks said as plain as 
a pug could that there was no use trying to com- 
pete with the team he sat behind, and there was 
not. 

Among the farm teams was a span of bay 
colts, raised and trained by their owner, per- 
fectly matched and warranted on account of 
their strength and steadiness to do any amount 
of work required. These were favorites and 
would have taken the prize had it not been for 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


227 


a pair of Norman grays which, after much dis- 
cussion were awarded the green ribbon. 

But the real excitement was over the saddle 
horses. The first time around the track the party 
from The Beeches all kept together, then — an 
idea of Mr. Graves’ — they were separated and 
coupled with strangers. Don Fulano, sensitive 
and quick, objected to the horse at whose side 
he was placed, while the other horse, apparently 
nettled by this lack of appreciation on Fulano^s 
part, was inclined to be restive. Vivian had not 
anticipated such a contingency, but proved her- 
self equal to the emergency. She spoke sooth- 
ingly to her horse, determined not to get excited 
herself, while Gerald, who was too far avray to 
render any immediate assistance, watched to see 
if anything serious would happen. 

The parade was nearly over when the horse 
next to Vivian gave a vicious bite at Fulano. 
The black reared and there was a breathless in- 
stant among the spectators, while Gerald broke 
the ranks to go to Vivian’s assistance. There 
was no need. Skilfully she brought down her 
proud steed and, loosening her rein, trotted 
away from the offender, while cries of “The 
black, the black, the blue ribbon for the black !” 
resounded through the enclosure. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


AN EXPEDITION GHOSTWARD. 

There was much merriment on the way home 
to The Beeches and they came in with Fulano 
wearing his blue ribbon proudly, while Vivian 
enjoyed to the full the congratulations which 
with sincere unselfishness they lavished upon her. 

Mr. Howe stood on the piazza waiting. Mrs. 
Howe and Miss Margaret sat near. One by one 
the riders dismounted — Gerald on Bay Beauty 
keeping in the background, until, at a signal 
from Mr. Howe, who stepped down to meet him, 
he came up to the door and jumping to the 
ground handed his bridle to the older man. 

A surprised murmur ran through the group on 
the piazza. “Is it — can it be the prize?” 

Yes, it was the prize, and no one was so com- 
pletely surprised as Vivian when she was called 
upon to accept it. “This makes the whole thing 
complete.” — It was Ruth who expressed what 
she felt must be the general sentiment of the 
party. 

“It has been a howling success,” said Sidney. 

“Yes,” said Ralph ; “but as Nelson says, I am 
all tuckered out.” 


228 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


229 


‘‘And I am so tired,” said Miriam, while 
Ernest disappeared to rest before dinner. 

“It was fine; but I have had pleasure enough 
for two days crowded into one.” Helen threw 
herself down in an easy chair with an air of per- 
fect satisfaction. 

“I haven’t,” exclaimed Allan. “I wish this 
day could last a year, and that I could keep go- 
ing all the time.” 

“So do I,” echoed Gerald. 

“Take me with you in your gyrations,” added 
Mr. Grafton. 

“Really,” said Miss Howe, “it does seem a 
pity not to do something more.” 

“Why can’t we go out on horseback after din- 
ner?” Vivian spoke eagerly, her eyes glowing 
at the thought. 

“What says the master of the horse?” Miss 
Howe turned to Mr. Grafton, apparently as 
much interested as Vivian at the thought. 

“It will be moonlight,” he answered, “and a 
glorious night.” 

“Splendid!” said Allan and Gerald in a 
breath. 

“And we won’t start till the moon is up,” 
said Vivian, clapping her hands. “May I ride 
Don?” — this teasingly to Gerald. 

“Not at night, if I have any wits left about 
me,” was the answer. 

“Would you like to go?” — Vivian had seen 


230 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Tina’s eager look and knew that the young girl 
was too timid to speak for herself. 

“Oh, yes!” Tina answered so gratefully that 
Vivian could not help laughing at her. 

Dinner was served at six o’clock. Then rid- 
ing habits were donned and the riding party 
mingled on the piazza with those who preferred, 
they said, to have some strength left for the 
morrow. 

When the moon was seen climbing over the 
tree tops, Mr. Grafton, Allan and Gerald started 
for the stables and soon their horses with those 
for Miss Howe, Tina and Vivian were at the 
door. 

They rode out at an easy pace, enjoying the 
coolness and the moonlight while they chatted 
with each other. Presently Mr. Grafton said: 
“What is the line of march. Miss Howe?” 

Vivian drew up Bay Beauty ; she did not wish 
to hear any directions. Gerald checked Fulano 
to keep at her side. “Why do you stop?” he 
asked. 

“Oh! don’t ask any questions,” she said; “on 
such a glorious night, I am going to do just 
what I please.” 

“I am afraid you are,” answered Gerald, not 
knowing quite what to expect from the excited 
air of the young girl at his side. 

Miss Howe agreed with Mr. Grafton that it 
would be better to keep to the open roads, turn- 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


281 


ing where they liked, but avoiding the bridle 
paths so charming in the daylight. 

Allan had stopped to shorten a stirrup, but he 
was not so far back as the others. “Shall I 
turn,” asked Mr. Grafton, “and tell them all to 
follow us?” 

“Yes,” said Miss Howe, “they should follow 
on the highway ; the bridle paths are scarcely 
safe at night, I think.” 

They did follow for a time, w’alking, trotting 
and at times breaking into a gallop. The night 
was so beautiful it seemed belter to go slowly 
and drink in the loveliness ; at least so thought 
the leaders, who slackened speed and continued 
to talk. As they gained the crest of a little hill 
they struck the piece of road which for a short 
distance was the finest for a gallop in all the 
country around. The horses started up from 
force of habit without waiting for a signal, and 
their riders, appreciating the situating, let them 
go. 

A little ahead w’as the turn into the wood- 
road which led to the deserted lodge of Castle 
Silent. When she reached this turn Vivian 
guided Bay Beauty into the woods, and galloped 
on, determined not to listen even if Gerald 
asked her to go back. He followed, not at all 
concerned. The road was perfectly plain in the 
moonlight and much lovelier than the other way. 

“I hope Miss Howe won’t mind,” he said as 


232 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


soon as he could make Vivian hear; “she wished 
us to keep together.” 

“I cannot help it, she answered, “it is my 
only chance so far as I can see.” 

“Chance for what?” 

“To see the ghost.” 

“But you don’t think,” said Gerald, hoping 
to keep her in the road, “you don’t think that 
the ghost will appear because you have come to 
look for him.” 

“I don’t know; perhaps he will.” 

“What are you going to do?” 

“I shall turn into this bridle path where I was 
yesterday. We can see Castle Silent and I will 
wait a few minutes and look. If there is a 
ghost there and he knows how badly I wish to 
see him, he will certainly appear to me.” 

“But Vivian, you do not really believe in the 
ghost, and I don’t think this path is quite safe 
in the night ; you might get off in that little 
ravine.” 

“Oh! no, I won’t. I studied this ground 
thoroughly yesterday, and I was simply en- 
chanted when I found that we could come to- 
night.” 

“If you were not so excited, you would see 
that we would better go back.” 

“I am not at all excited, and I am determined 
to see the ghost.” 

As she spoke she turned into the bridle path 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


233 


and Gerald felt obliged to follow. The moon 
went under some light clouds and, although 
they could still see their way very well, they 
realized it would not be pleasant to have it any 
darker. 

“There,” said Vivian, as the moon sailed 
calmly out again, “there is Castle Silent.” 

“Yes,” replied Gerald, “now I hope you are 
satisfied. There is nothing more to see; but it 
will be better to wait a few minutes for that 
heavy cloud will soon hide the moon and you 
might not escape the ravine. It is not deep but 
it does not take a deep place to break a bone.” 

“I will wait,” said Vivian, “I wish to wait.” 

The Castle looked absolutely deserted — no 
lights were visible anywhere except that the 
moonlight fell on the windows from the outside 
and made them appear as if lighted from within. 
The moon went slowly under the cloud and the 
windows darkened. Gerald gave one glance at 
the sky and saw that in another minute or two 
it would be safe to move on. “Hark!” he ex- 
claimed, “I hear Grafton’s whistle.” Then, as 
he turned from Vivian and peered into the 
darkness, a strange thing happened which he 
did not see. Vivian, who was looking intently 
at the Castle, saw a light in the library which 
spread and brightened until the figure of a man 
was clearly defined within the room. She shud- 
dered and Bay Beauty trembled. The light 


234 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


faded — the moon was coming out. She did not 
scream ; but at that instant a whip-poor-will, 
disturbed perhaps by the riders, swished through 
the bushes near Bay Beauty’s head and the 
horse already startled, swerved to one side, stum- 
bled on a round stone and fell, throwing Vivian 
who had almost forgotten that she held a rein. 

One word to Fulano and Gerald was at her 
side. The horse was struggling to right herself 
— she might fall upon Vivian. Gerald lifted the 
girl — quickly pulled her into a place of safety — 
then turned in a flash to help Bay Beauty. 
Only an instant ; but it was too late. Bay Beauty 
had fallen into the ravine. 

“Are you hurt, Vivian!” Gerald turned 
anxiously towards her. 

“No, no. What can I do?” 

“Stand by Fulano’s head and hold his bridle 
firmly.” Then Gerald lifted his whistle to his 
lips and blew a long steady call. 

Mr. Grafton answered at once and almost 
immediately joined them. He and Gerald went 
down into the ravine to see what was to be done 
and in a few minutes they had returned. “Ger- 
ald will take you home with my horse. Miss 
Vivian, and I will wait here until he comes 
back.” 

“What are you going to do; can’t I help?” 

“I am sorry to say you cannot. It is too bad ; 
but there is only one thing to be done — Mr. 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


235 


Howe will not be able to advise anything differ- 
ent — Bay Beauty’s leg is broken and she must 
be shot.” 

‘‘But I won’t have her shot!” 

“My dear young lady, there is nothing else to 
be done.” 

“But I won’t have her shot !” repeated Vivian.. 
“Oh, Gerald, must she be shot?” 

“No. Excuse me, Mr. Grafton, but I have 
seen such an accident once before. I can get 
chloroform almost as soon as I can get the revol- 
ver. Won’t you take Vivian home and then 
come back to me?” 

Gerald scarcely w’aited for the answer; he 
bounded lightly on Don’s back, drew up his 
rein, patted the horse's neck and said: “Old 
fellow, I w^ant to get to that shop like lightning ; 
do you understand?” 

Don did understand, and such a run that was 
through the moonlight and back again; but oh! 
how long it seemed to Vivian. As soon as Ger- 
ald had mounted she began to climb down into the 
ravine, and Mr. Grafton — divining her intention 
— said not a word in remonstrance but helped 
her through the bushes down to the rocks below. 
There lay Bay Beauty with her great browm 
eyes turned toward them. Vivian put her 
arms about the horse’s neck and waited. She 
did not speak; she did not cry; she only listened 
for the sound of Fulano’s return. 


236 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Here I am,” said Gerald, joining them, “now 
come, Vivian.” 

“No, Gerald,” and she kept a hand on her 
favorite’s neck until every sign of pain had 
disappeared and Bay Beauty lay still before her. 

“If you will go now,” said Mr. Grafton, “I 
promise you that I will not leave Bay Beauty 
until I know that she is dead.” 

“You promise?” 

“I promise.” 

Vivian turned to Gerald who helped her back 
into the bridle path. Not a word was spoken 
as he took her home. There was a group of 
waiting figures on the piazza; but Vivian saw no 
one ; blindly she dashed past them up to her own 
room, where, shutting out everyone, she supposed, 
except herself, she threw off all restraint, burst- 
ing into a wild passion of tears. 

Tina, who had followed, dared not attempt to 
soothe her. She had never seen anything like 
this before and stood with clasped hands, help- 
less. At last Vivian saw her. — “Lock the door,” 
she said; “don’t let anybody come in.” 

To each knock Tina answered: “Please wait, 
she doesn’t want anything,” and Vivian, grate- 
ful for Tina’s persistence, was at last persuaded 
to go to bed, where she soon fell into the sleep 
which follows complete exhaustion. 

The next day she begged so earnestly to be 
let alone that the request was granted, although 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 237 

reluctantly, for the musicians were almost in 
despair. 

“She may fail us entirely,” said Miss Howe. 

“Then we must do the best we can,” answered 
Gerald, “for the tickets are all out and the 
people will come.” 

“I am awfully sorry” — and Allan looked quite 
distressed — ‘T wanted to get up this kitten song 
this morning. Vivian’s meou is inimitable and 
it would please the children so.” He sat turn- 
ing over the leaves of one of Edward Lear’s 
nonsense books when a sudden thought struck 
him. Leaving the rest to rearrange the pro- 
gramme, he went out to the piazza and walking 
up and down under Vivian’s window repeated 
twice in a sing-song tone these lines: — 

“There was a young woman who knew 
Like a kitten exactly to mew ; 

But she mewed herself up. 

Shedding tears by the cup, 

So the musical faded from view.” 

At last the window opened: — “Allan?” 

“Hello!” 

“Won’t the musical go on without me?” 

“Can Hamlet etc., etc.?” — 

“Nonsense!” Vivian shut the window with 
a bang, turned to her mirror, made a few hasty 
changes in her toilet, and tripped down to the 
morning room, where she found the late un- 
pleasantness quite ignored and the coming 
musical the absorbing topic of the hour. 


CHAPTER XXII. 


FINAL EXPLOIT OF THE KNIGHTS. 

“You’re so taken up with the musical, Allan, 
I get no chance to talk with you at all.” 

“Well there must be a chance, for — musical 
or no musical — I am not going to give up what 
we set out to do just after I came here.” 

“Perhaps we would better give it up.” 

“Not I.” 

“After all there may be nothing in it; Nelson 
may be mistaken.” 

“Do you think so? I don’t. Do you remem- 
ber the morning he said he was going once more 
over the whole situation?” 

“Indeed I do. If I had known what he was 
talking about I’d have gotten out of the way in 
a hurry; but I never suspected.” 

“Of course you didn’t. But you do know 
now and I say the moral responsibility rests up- 
on you to use your knowledge.” 

“Don’t be absurd, Allan.” 

“I don’t think Nelson is so absurd. He has a 
superstition that if the ring is found, it will 
make everything right. Now why shouldn’t it? 
Isn’t it the way things go in the books?” 

238 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


239 


“Yes, in books — in novels.” 

“Well, rd rather make a novel than write one. 
I’m nothing if not original ; but I tell you what 
it is, the time is growing short and we’ll have to 
brighten up our wits. I want you to go with 
me now and — ” 

“Allan, Allan, where are you?” called a voice 
from indoors. 

“Here I am,” Allan responded, as Vivian ap- 
peared on the piazza. 

“Can you come and practice with me?” she 
asked. “Ruth wants me to go with her later to 
see Miss Graves and there won’t be a minute.” 

“Certainly,” called Allan; but he threw a 
woeful look at Sidney. 

“Give it up, I say,” advised Sidney. 

“Never — die first. Look out or you’ll lose 
your spurs. Sir Philip.” 

“I may lose them anyway if I follow such a 
reckless knight of the thistle as you are.” 

“Hist !” said Allan tragically; “take what rest 
you may in the early hours of the night ; but 
leave your door ajar — I shall waken you at 
midnight.” 

“What for?” 

“To prove whether you are a true knight- 
errant.’^’ 

“What do you mean to do?” 

“Time will reveal; I must go now to the 
music.” 


240 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 


When Allan did waken him Sidney had no 
idea of the hour, and he persisted in considering 
the whole thing a joke until Allan had spoken 
again and again, always softly, under his breath. 

“It is too early anyway,” he said at last. 

“Early!” Allan held his watch before Sid- 
ney’s eyes; “hurry up I say.” 

“You have forgotten the dogs; they will bark 
as we go out.” 

“No, they won’t. Guard is right here at this 
end of the piazza. I’ll speak to him softly — 
there he is wagging his tail against the floor — 
we are all right; put out the light and come.” 

Allan slipped to the ground, Sidney followed, 
and without speaking they took a round-a- 
bout course to the road so as to avoid rousing 
the stables. Allan, who had skilfully planned 
the expedition, made for the pile of stones which 
marked the hollow tree where he had hidden his 
lantern and shovel. “Here, take these,” he 
said, “while I pick up the apples. I had my 
pockets full when I was here this afternoon and 
I left them, for I thought we’d be thirsty before 
we got through. They’re fine juicy ones.” 

“Good idea; my pockets are at your service.” 

“I say Sid,” Allan was very serious, “I had 
a new idea about that ring this afternoon.” 

“Oh! yes, you are always having new ideas 
about it; but don’t expect me to follow them.” 

“This one is the natural course of evolution.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


241 


“Well, I can’t evolute unless you explain.” 

“Exactly so. Now if you had thought of it, 
you would have been the leader and I the fol- 
lower. It is ideas that make the difference be- 
tween master and slave in this world.” 

“What ideas — think of what?” 

“Why you know Nelson has been over there 
and dug and dug and we have followed like two 
silly lambs where he led. We’ve searched and 
we’ve dug too; but always in the same spot 
where Nelson saw the ring fall.” 

“He didn’t say any particular spot.” 

“No, but he has dug alvv^ays in one place, 
proof conclusive that he considers it the place.” 

“I don’t see that we have gai&ed much by 
knowing that.” 

“Listen! — There is a big tree just identically 
behind the hole where Nelson was at work when 
we first discovered him. A ring might have been 
thrown against the tree and it might have 
caromed at an angle that could have thrown it 
some distance from where it struck. I have 
been over there by myself prospecting and I am 
almost sure I have struck the right trail.” 

“But you don’t know from what direction it 
was thrown.” 

“Yes, I do. I didn’t go quite over to-day for 
Nelson was making a final search and going 
through a pantomime to refresh his memory. He 
was talking to himself as usual when he is alone, 
and he said : — 


242 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘She stood here, and he stood there,’ and 
then — lifting his hand — he threw an imaginary 
something directly toward the tree. That gave 
me the notion of the carom.” 

Taking the short cut, they soon reached the 
lodge. Allan stopped short and listened. 
“What is the matter?” asked Sidney. 

“Nothing, only — since the Castle is haunted — ” 

“A knight of the thistle afraid of a ghost,” 
Sidney laughed softly. 

“No, no, that’s not it” — impatiently — “don’t 
fool, Sid, I tell you I am in earnest.” 

“Well, what about the ghost?” 

“It’s not a ghost, but humans bent on mis- 
chief that I fear. I had no idea until the horse 
show how many stray men there were about. 
We must make dead sure as we go along.” 

“All right, what else?” 

“Nothing, I guess. It isn’t likely that any- 
body except ourselves will be geese enough to 
come this way, and we can stop once in a while 
to listen.” 

“Hush!” said Sidney, “I hear some one now.” 

“It is only a stray dog,” answered Allan, re- 
lieved, after an instant of listening. 

“Perhaps he belongs at the lodge.” 

“No, there is neither man nor beast left on 
the premises. No inhabitants of any kind except 
the ghost.” 

“I am not sure — I think I hear steps — let us 
wait a few minutes and see.” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


243 


‘‘Glad we brought the apples,” returned 
Allan, taking one from his pocket; “they sort 
of fill in the pauses.” 

“1 am glad w^e did,” was the answer, as Sid- 
ney bit into another pippin ; “but the time is just 
skipping. It is almost daylight.” 

“Come on then, I don’t believe there’s a soul 
within a mile of us;” and they had soon recon- 
noitered the front of the house and passed 
around to the back. 

“Here’s the tree?” exclaimed Sidney, for it 
had grown quite light by the time they had 
reached it. 

“The very one. Now then you see what I 
mean. All of this ground has been interviewed 
by Nelson, yourself and yours truly, and what 
I say is that a carom might have sent the ring 
over there.” 

“Then it would have been likely to fall over 
into that pile of sand.” 

“Precisely.” 

“A needle in a haystack would be a mild com- 
parison to it then.” 

“I’m not so sure. Now I’ll swing myself 
over,” and Allan — suiting the action to the 
word — caught hold of a sapling, threw himself 
over the ledge and landed on the heap of build- 
ing sand. “Toss me that shovel, will you,” he 
said; “and now you come.” 

“Allan, you are the most — ” 


244 UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 

“Yes, driveling idiot if the ring is not found 
— if it is you will call me a genius.” 

Sidney followed the shovel and the search be- 
gan. “We may find something,” he said; “this 
place has been deserted so long, who knows but 
there is a treasure-trove hidden right here.” 

“Ah, ha! Now you are interested. You can 
get a new blood and thunder story out of it any- 
way for your next magazine effort ; that will be 
one treasure.” 

“I have an idea for a good story, I think — 
suppose I tell it to you.” 

“All right, fire ahead.” 

The time passed quickly. Sidney, absorbed 
in his own creation, searched in a half-hearted 
manner ; but Allan delved in the sand, or put 
aside promising pieces of stone, working like a 
man with a set purpose, which he is bent upon 
pursuing to its final conclusion. 

“What are you doing down there?” — a bold 
commanding voice rang out from the ledge above. 
— “Why Allan — Sidney — what on earth?” and 
Gerald, following their manner of descent, soon 
stood beside them. 

For an instant there was an awkward silence, 
then Allan, resting on the shovel, asked: 
“What brings you here at cock-crow, my 
friend?” 

“It is long past cock-crow,” laughed Gerald; 
“but I came for some music that I had left in 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


245 


the lodge and needed to use right after break- 
fast this morning. I will not ask what you 
came for; I think I know.” 

“Do you?” Sidney spoke too eagerly, but he 
could not recall his words, and the slight look of 
annoyance faded from Allan’s face as Gerald 
answered: “Well, you were so determined to 
fool the girls about the oven, you are probably 
getting up some trap for them now. I don’t 
quite see, though, how you would bring them 
down here.” 

“It is a climb from above,” said Allan; “but 
not so bad through the woods and up from the 
ravine.”- 

“Hello!” exclaimed Gerald, “what’s this? 
Did either of you drop this ring?” 

Allan and Sidney gave a quick glance at each 
other as Gerald stooped down, and in the sand 
displaced by his foot, where Allan had been dig- 
ging, picked up the long sought and greatly de- 
sired treasure. He handed it to one and then to 
another, but meeting only a blank stare in either 
case, he looked to see what it was that he had 
found. “No, I see it is not yours,” he said; “it 
must be Uncle Hugh’s, for it is his crest cut on 
heliotrope, his favorite stone. But how could 
it have come here? It must have been here a 
long time. I suppose it could have lain here in 
this dry place a good while without injury.” 

Gerald talked on, yet he was growing slightly 


246 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


uncomfortable, for it was strange to have the 
others say nothing, not even express surprise or 
ask to look at the ring. At last Allan recovered 
himself: “Yes, it must be your uncle’s,” he 
said ; “and now we must get back ; it must be al- 
most breakfast time.” 

“Pll overtake you when I find the music;” 
and Gerald, slipping the ring on his finger, 
turned toward the lodge not a little mystified at 
the strange behavior of his friends. He made 
no effort to overtake them, but walked rather 
slowly toward The Beeches. Near the house he 
met Nelson and he was not at all surprised to 
have him stop short in the path, for Nelson 
generally had something on his mind. What 
did surprise him was to have him say: “Excuse 
me, Mr. Gerald, but you don’t generally wear a 
ring, do you?” From another man this might 
have been an impertinence, but Nelson was a 
privileged character, and he answered : 

“Not generally ; but I have just picked this 
one up. It must be one my uncle lost some 
time ago.” 

“Did ye find it over there by the big tree by 
the new part.” 

“No, in the sand below.” 

“Wal I never! Did ye know — ?” Nelson 
stopped short ; he began to realize that his 
curiosity was betraying too much knowledge 
about the ring, and he hastily added: “I reckon 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


247 


it was jest as well you found it,” and.passed on. 

Gerald looked after him a moment, half in- 
clined to call him back, then he looked at the 
ring, and, not knowing exactly why, slipped 
it off his finger and dropped it into a pocket 
of his vest. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


THE RAYMOND CREST. 

Upon Miss Howe and Vivian really depended 
the success of the musical. Allan’s versatility 
would carry him easily over the lighter parts, 
and Gerald played with unerring touch and cor- 
rect taste the comparatively simple numbers 
which were all that he would allow himself to 
attempt. But Vivian had been more ambitious, 
especially in the duets, and she now had a good 
deal of responsibility, which Miss Howe shared, 
resting upon her. 

She felt keenly the consequences of her rash- 
ness — her deliberate disobedience — and, although 
everyone was perfectly kind about it, forgetting 
apparently that anything had gone amiss, she 
herself could not forget that it was a blot upon 
the beauty of the summer. She worked all the 
harder now because of her desire to add as 
much as possible to the pleasure of this enter- 
tainment and obliterate, so far as she might, the 
memory of her former wilfulness. 

“I am afraid I have attempted too much,” 
she said to Miss Howe as they went into the 
tower room to get ready for the final rehearsal. 

248 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


249 


“I do not think that you have.” 

“Up here it is all right,” continued Vivian, 
“you are in perfect accord, Gerald is a born 
musician, and Tina worships music although 
she does not understand it. But down stairs 
there may be the unsympathetic atmosphere, and 
suppose, oh ! Miss Howe, suppose the people 
should talk. I cannot understand, can you, how 
persons can talk in the presence of good music.” 

“Yes, I think I can understand it.” 

“Oh! I am so sorry — I didn’t suppose you 
could.” 

“Why, Vivian dear, they simply do not listen, 
that is all. Many of those who are indifferent do 
love music, but, when their neighbors chatter, 
they do not wish to appear singular and so they 
chatter too. I have been glad of the chatter 
sometimes to cover my confusion.” 

“I hadn’t thought of that.” 

“You will not need to think of it this time I 
am sure. And you must remember that there 
are enough of us about you who do care for your 
playing and who will thoroughly enjoy it.” 

“Don’t you think Allan has too many things 
on the programme?” Vivian was experiencing 
the bad quarter of an hour which so often pre- 
cedes a performance and when one trouble was 
disposed of she found another. 

“No, I think not. Allan’s idea is to give the 
most pleasure to the greatest number ; I am sure 


250 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


he is not thinking of himself or of how many 
times he is to appear with his banjo.” 

“Oh! Allan never thinks of himself,” answered 
Vivian; “here he comes now with Gerald and 
Tina.” 

It was an afternoon of hard work. Miss Howe 
insisted upon a break when “Intermission” 
came upon the programme, so that they might 
each take a brisk walk or a short horseback 
ride, and then they gathered again to work for 
another hour. 

^‘Qaantitm exclaimed Allan at last. 

“I do not any longer know boots from a banjo. 
Somebody tie up my head or make a few hyp- 
notic passes over me, won’t you?” 

“I advise change of scene,” said Vivian. 

“But first tell me,” answered Allan ; “who is 
to be musical librarian to-morrow' evening.” 

“Yourself,” was the quick reply; for Vivian 
had learned that Allan, in spite of his apparent 
carelessness could always be depended upon in 
an emergency. 

“I accept the position.” And in a few minutes 
the scattered sheets were laid in regular order. 
“May I leave everything right here?” — turning 
to Miss Howe. 

“It will be the safest place,” she answered, 
and then, as they all left the room, she sank 
into an easy chair by the window. 

Gerald turned back and crossed over to where 


UNCLE EAELE’S MONOPOLY 


251 


she was sitting : — “You are very tired,” he said; 
“can I do anything for you?” 

“I am never tired, you know, Gerald,” — she 
looked up smiling — “but perhaps I am a little 
weary.” 

He smiled back, not fully comprehending, 
yet catching — little as she suspected it — some 
inkling of her meaning. Within the last few 
days stray words had fallen upon his ears and 
he had been putting two and two together. 

Miss Howe rose and, stepping to an old cabi- 
net, drew open a drawer and took out some 
sheets of manuscript music. “These,” she said, 
as she handed them to him, “are some Venetian 
melodies that I copied long ago. Will you try 
them for me on your violin?” 

“With pleasure, if I can. I was just thinking 
of Venice; my last letter from my uncle w'as 
written there and I have not heard since. I do 
not quite understand, for he is such a regular 
correspondent and always tells me when he 
makes any new move abroad.” 

“Did he write about Venice in your letter?” 

“Yes, but it is not as entertaining as his other 
letters which I have read to you. Uncle Hugh 
is a rather freaky individual in his correspond- 
ence. He never fails to write; but sometimes 
his letters are full of interesting things and 
then again they are scrappy. Shall I read you 
this one?” 


252 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


‘‘If you will.” Miss Howe weut back to the 
chair by the window and sat looking out while 
Gerald read. Venice was, of all the foreign 
cities, the one she cared most about. She had 
been very happy in Venice and it was there that 
she had herself played with Hugh Raymond the 
melodies which she now asked Gerald to try for 
her on his violin. He went over to the piano 
where the instrument lay and as he picked it up 
he snapped a string. While looking for another 
he fumbled in his vest pocket and accidentally 
pulled out the ring which he had placed there 
for safety. “I might have lost it,” he said to 
himself, as he slipped it again upon his finger. 

The music was not difficult, yet Gerald felt 
that he did not catch the spirit of it. “I don’t 
get this one, do I?” he asked. 

“Not quite, it is more like this,” and Miss 
Howe hummed the air. “It is a boatman’s song,” 
she said. 

“I see, it is the rocking of the boat on the 
waves that I miss,” and he played it over again 
before he took up another. 

“That is not the best one,” interrupted Miss 
Howe, “perhaps I didn’t give it to you. Wait 
a minute until I look in the drawer again.” She 
went to the cabinet — and after a little search — 
came back with another sheet. 

“Oh! this is a gondolied.” Gerald took it 
eagerly and, oblivious of the fact that he had 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


258 


been practicing most of the afternoon, began 
reading this new melody. 

It was growing late and where Gerald stood 
the light was dim. ‘Y^'ou cannot see there, I 
am afraid,” said Miss Howe, turning toward 
him. 

“Yes, I can see quite well.” 

“It will be better to come nearer the light — I 
will draw up the shades.” 

“Let me do it.” Gerald sprang forward to 
anticipate Miss Howe and, as he reached out to 
the window, the sunlight fell brightly upon the 
ring on his little finger. 

“Gerald! — ” He turned back at the sharp ex- 
clamation — “Gerald, where did you find it? It 
is mine — the ring — it is mine.” 

Without a question, he drew off the ring and 
handed it to her. She grasped it hurriedly and 
held it to the light. Yes, it was the Raymond 
crest, cut in a fine heliotrope stone and on either 
side of the gold setting were characters which 
only she and the giver knew how to interpret. 
“Where did you find it?” she repeated. 

Very quietly — avoiding any tone or look that 
might add to her intense excitement — he told 
her how he had picked it up in the sand below 
Castle Silent. “I will leave it with you,” he said, 
and turned to go out of the room. 

This recalled her to herself. “No, no, Ger- 
ald,” she said firmly, “it is not mine. Forget 


254 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


— you must forget — that I claimed it. It is 
very precious to me; but it is not mine.” She 
pressed it back again into his hand, and, in'^an- 
other instant, he found himself ’^alone^un the 
tower room. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


THE GHOST MATERIALIZES. 

The musical began early so that those who 
came from a distance and those who brought 
children, could reach home before a late hour. 
Vivian’s forebodings gave place to a cheerful 
excitement, shared by all the performers and by 
all the members of the household. In good time 
all of the seats in the drawing room and library 
were filled — there were no delays — no interrup- 
tions — and the programme was finished in the time 
arranged for it. Then came congratulations, 
compliments, and, in some quarters, a pardon- 
able anxiety to know the financial result. 

“All that we need,” announced Mr. Graves 
triumphantly; “now the house can be finished 
and permanent quarters assured to those little 
folks for some time to come. But you must be 
tired out here at The Beeches. Come, Lavinia, 
we must go so that they can rest.” 

They were tired, but it was much too soon for 
the excited performers to think of going to sleep. 
Mrs. Howe had retired, Uncle Earle was in his 
own study, and Miss Howe sat in a sheltered 
corner of the piazza, unnoticed by Gerald and 
255 


256 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


Vivian who came toward her talking in a low 
tone. Vivian was speaking: 

“I saw the same thing before ; the night Bay 
Beauty w’as killed.” 

‘‘Why didn’t you tell me then?” 

“I supposed of course that you saw.” 

“Tell me, exactly.” 

“Why, when the light came again, I saw a 
figure — the figure of a man — against the win- 
dow.” 

“And you saw lights again to-night from the 
tower room? It is moonlight now, you know.” 

“Yes, I know, but I am sure about the lights.” 

“Then there must be thieves trying to see 
wUat they can find. I’ll ask Sid and Allan to 
go with me and find out.” 

“Won’t you get hurt?” 

“No. I won’t let the other fellows take any 
risks, and it is my duty to protect my uncle’s 
property when he is on the other side of the 
world.” 

Miss Howe tried to speak, but could not. At 
first she supposed that they saw her, and after- 
wards a conflict of feelings kept her silent. 
Was it her duty to dissuade Gerald from going 
to Castle Silent.? Was there any dangei to be 
feared? She did not believe that there was. 
She, too, had seen the lights; but she felt that 
it was the owner of Castle Silent w'ho had set 
them burning. Gerald had not heard from him 


UNCLE EAKLE’S MONOPOLY 


257 


for weeks and he had been known to come and 
go before in mysterious fashion. And if he 
were there? And if he should see the ring? 
What would Gerald tell him about it? She rose 
hastily and paced back and forth for a time — 
then seated herself where she had been in the 
shadow. 

Vivian had gone directly up stairs and Gerald 
had found Sidney and Allan more than ready to 
take part in what promised to be an adventure. 

“At last,” exclaimed Allan, “we may find a 
foeman worthy of our steel.” 

“We may need some of the real article in 
that case,” suggested Sidney. 

“I have my revolver,” answered Gerald, “and 
we shall not need more than one. We shall find 
only sneak thieves, and they are always 
cowards.” 

“I wish I had Nelson’s rifle,” — Allan turned 
toward the stables — “I am sure he would lend it 
to me.” 

“The very thing,” replied Sidney, “but Nel- 
son is asleep by this time.” 

“I think not, there is a light in his room.” 
And Allan started for the carriage house. 

“Yes,” called Nelson, “I’ll give it to ye; but 
I calkerlate it’s bad luck to kill a cat : ye better 
drown her.” 

“Who said cat?” But Allan did not enter 
into explanations, for he realized that the time 


258 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


might be growing precious. “Now we are ready,” 
as he returned wuth his weapon. “Forward 
march.” 

“There are lights, Gerald.” 

“Yes, Sidney, I see them.” 

“Some one is going back and forth in the 
library.” 

“That is the only place in the house where 
there is anything valuable. Uncle Hugh left a 
chest of papers there.” 

“Which is being rifled, I should say.” 

“Hurry up and let me rifle the thief,” said 
Allan, pointing his weapon toward the house. 

“Softly,” answered Gerald, and without 
further word they walked rapidly, soon reach- 
ing the front of the Castle. The door stood 
slightly ajar: “Good,” said Gerald in a 
vrhisper, “if I surprise him he will try to escape 
this way — the windows are all fastened. You 
just wait inside while I go to the library.” 

“Have your own shotgun ready.” 

“I will.” 

Noiselessly the front door swung open and 
was as noiselessly closed. Allan and Sidney 
took their motionless stand in the darkened 
hallway while Gerald made his way to the 
lighted room. A breathless minute which 
seemed an age, and then the exclamations: 

“Why, Gerald!” 

“Uncle Hugh !” 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


259 


Allan ground arms with a bang that would 
have brought Mr. Raymond to the hall had he 
not been too astonished at the sight of his own 
nephew pointing a revolver at him, to pay at- 
tention to extraneous trifles. Gerald heard it 
and knew that the boys understood and would 
either wait for him or go quietly home as they 
felt inclined. He had something far too im- 
portant on his mind to give further thought to 
them. . 

“So you took me for a thief,” and Mr. Ray- 
mond laughed heartily as he comprehended the 
situation. 

“Yes, but whdt brings you here now, may I 
ask? I wondered you didn’t write to me.” 

“My plans were changed, and as I had to 
come back on some business, I ran up to get the 
drawings of this house ; they were in my chest.” 

“You will finish the house?” Gerald was de- 
lighted, 

“Oh! no. Stone, my architect, asked me if 
he might have these plans to use elsewhere.” 

“But, Uncle Hugh, why won’t you build and 
live here a part of the time 3murself?” 

Gerald sat down at the table where the paich- 
ments lay and opened a sheet as he asked the 
question. Mr. Raymond stood looking down 
upon him. 

“It might be well to tell you,” he said, walk- 
ing with rapid steps up and down the room. 


260 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


“Yes,” stopping an instant, “I was only a year 
older than you when it happened” — he walked 
back and forth again more slowly — “but youth 
is no excuse for such folly. You are not like 
me, Gerald — you are calmer, more self-poised 
than I was at your age, yet it may be well to 
give you the warning of my experience.” 

Gerald said nothing. He held the curling 
parchment open on the table apparently study- 
ing the lines and figures. 

“This house,” continued Mr. Raymond, “was 
begun for the loveliest, the best woman in the 
world, who was to come here as its mistress. I 
would rather not tell you her name, and what I 
do tell you must be locked up in your own 
mind.” 

Gerald bowed assent over the papers. 

“We had a quarrel — that is I quarrelled. I 
w’as hot headed and unreasonable. If there had 
been any excuse it would have been different ; 
but there was no excuse. It was all my fault — 
my accursed folly. One day she gave me back 
my ring.* It was my one chance for explanation, 
for reparation. By my own act I lost that 
chance forever, and I have never looked into her 
face again. No woman’s affection could stand 
such an ordeal, and she has long forgotten to 
care whether I am living or dead. Now you 
know why this house is going to ruin. It was 
for her, and no one else shall live here while I 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


261 


live. And, having no home, I prefer to be a 
wanderer.” 

Mr. Raymond stood still noting the effect of 
his words. Gerald did not raise his eyes; he 
was gathering his forces for the ordeal before 
him. At last he spoke. 

“If you are going back so soon, I should like 
to consult you about a little matter that puzzles 
me.” 

Mr. Raymond wheeled around to the window. 
Oh! the arrogance of youth. Here he had bared 
his very soul to save his kinsman, perhaps, from 
a life like his own, and with what result? No 
appreciation, no delicacy of feeling, only scorn- 
ful thought, “a little matter that puzzled him !” 
With a forceful effort he controlled himself. 
“Go on,” he said curtly. 

“They have been no end good to me over at 
The Beeches,” began Gera'd, “especially Miss 
Howe, and it has happened that I have been 
thrown a good deal with her. It’s the music 
partly, I think. I cannot play much, yet she 
always makes me play for her. Sometimes when 
I have been playing, your letters have happened 
to come and that is one thing I wanted to speak 
to you about. She asked me a question about 
you one day, I forget what, and I read aloud a 
part of your letter. After that she always 
asked if I had good news, and I fell into the 
habit of reading to her. As a consequence I 


262 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


read pretty much all that you wrote, and per- 
haps I should apologize fo/ doing so, although 
there was nothing really personal, you know. 

“Your last letter was from Venice. I was in 
Miss Ilowe’s study — a lot of us had been practic- 
ing up there, but the others had gone. She 
found some manuscript music, Venetian melo- 
dies, and asked me to try them on my violin. 
“That reminded me of the letter which I read, 
and we talked about it a little. Oh ! I have for- 
gotten” — G-erald interrupted himself — “before 
this Sidney and Allan, who are always digging 
for some reason or another, were at work in the 
pile of rubbish below this house. One morning 
when they were there, I jumped down from the 
ledge to join them and I saw this ring upon the 
sand.” 

Mr. Raymond turned from the v/indow and 
took a step or two toward the table 

“I t )ld the fellows,” Gerald continued, “that 
it must be yours and of course they let me have 
it. I didn’t wear it at first, but when I was 
playing for Miss Howe I happened to have it on 
my finger. As soon as she saw the ring, she 
claimed it. I took it ofiP and gave it to her ; but, 
after she had kept it a minute, she made me 
take it back. ‘It is not mine, Gerald,’ she said, 
‘and you must forget that I have claimed it. It 
is very precious to me, but it is not mine.’ — But, 
if the ring is hers, Uncle Hugh, what shall I do 
about it?” 


UNCLE EABLE’S MONOPOLY 263 

“Give it to me.” 

As Gerald handed the ring, their eyes met — 
then their hands in a strong, warm clasp^ “It 
is not late, is it?” — Mr. Raymond looked at his 
watch — and before Gerald could answer, .his 
uncle had left the room. Without seeing the 
occupants of the hall, he passed quickly out of 
the door and took the path which led to The 
Beeches. 

Miss Howe grew anxious waiting for the boys 
to return. At last she left her corner and, going 
down the steps, w^ent out into the moonlight. 
Guard, w’ho had been lying at her side, rose 
silently and followed her while she walked 
quickly to the turn which the boys must have 
taken on their w^ay to Castle Silent. Further 
she w^ould not permit herself to go ; but she 
walked up and dowm, waiting and listening. 

Guard trotted after for a turn or tw^o, then he 
put his nose in her hand and looked at her in- 
quiringly. He suggested that they should re- 
turn; but when she called him back, he lay 
down and waited her pleasure. 

At last a step — not the boys, for there were no 
voices. She stood on the edge of a little open 
glade, flooded by the moonlight, and she stepped 
back out of the light to see whether it should 
prove to be a friend or foe. 

Guard stood up muttering a low growl. 
“Hush!” said his mistress, as Mr. Raymond 


264 


UNCLE EAIILE.’S MONOPOLY 


came through the trees, but as he crossed the 
open space the dog barked warningly. “Hush, 
Guard, hush,” commanded Miss Howe, “it is a 
friend.” 

“Can you say ‘a friend,’ Margaret, after all 
these years?” 

“It was my fault that we have not been 
friends,” she answered, putting her hand in 
his. 

“No, no, you shall not say that.” Then, as 
he drew her toward him: “Is it true that you 
have asked Gerald about me? Have you really 
cared vrhether I were alive or dead?” 

“I have always cared, Hugh.” 

“He told me about the music — was it our 
music that you asked him to play for you? I 
dreampt that was ashes long ago.” 

“It will never be ashes while I live.” 

“And the ring — your ring — I have no right to 
ask it — but — can you — will you — wear it again 
for me?” 

x\nother moment, and Guard barked again; 
but this time it was a friendly bark, as Gerald 
with Sidney and Allan came homewards. 

“We shall be lucky,” Allan said, “if we do 
not find ourselves locked out;” and they walked 
on quickly without paying any attention to the 
dog. 

“No, the door is open and lights are burning. 
This means,” said Sidney, “that Aunt Margaret 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


265 


is waiting for us ; we must go right in and tell 
her that we are here.” Not finding her, they 
waited, and in a few minutes Miss Howe came. 
‘‘I am sorry we kept you. Aunt Margaret,” said 
Sidney, “let me lock up.” 

“Thank you — good night — ” and she passed 
on and up the stairs. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


END OF THE FAIRY TALE. 

“He is perfectly splendid!” was the universal 
verdict of the girls, and the boys admitted that. 
Gerald had not praised his uncle by a word too 
much. As for Miss Howe, there was but one 
opinion — she was an ideal lady of The Castle, and 
they were most eager to know whether it was to 
be finished and when. 

“Yes,” said Mr. Raymond in answer to an 
inquiry, “I shall begin work at once and I re- 
gret extremely that I cannot oversee it myself, 
but I shall leave it in good hands while I am on 
the other side.” 

“You are going back?” Sidney glanced in- 
voluntarily at his aunt. 

“I am obliged to go,” said Mr. Raymond in- 
terpreting the look, “and your Aunt Margaret, 
who knows that I cannot break my word and 
that I will not go without her, has been good 
enough to say that she will go with me.” 

There was a simple wedding one morning at 
The Beeches, the very day before the lads and 
lassies scattered to their homes. Ruth said it 
was the only correct and the most beautiful 
266 


UNCLE EARLE’S MONOPOLY 


267 


ending of the fairy tale which they had been 
living through the summer. 

“Next year,” said Mr. Raymond, “there will 
be no ghost at The Castle, and we ask you to 
promise that you will all come to the house- 
warming.” 

“I knowed if thet ring was found,” said Nel- 
son, “thet it would all come out all right. 
Some things ye know jest because ye do know 
’em. Ye can’t tell yourself, an’ nobody else ken 
tell why it is ; but ye jest do.” 


THE END. 




NOV 161899- 





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